In a bold move illustrating the lengths to which the current administration will go to protect sensitive data, a federal judge has once again extended a *temporary restraining order* (TRO) that prevents DOGE from getting its hands on Education Department and OPM records.
US District Judge Deborah Boardman, appointed by President Biden, initially issued the TRO last month to block the Department of Education and the Office of Personnel Management from sharing their data with DOGE.
“DOGE affiliates have been granted access to systems of record that contain some of the plaintiffs’ most sensitive data — Social Security numbers, dates of birth, home addresses, income and assets, citizenship status, and disability status — and their access to this trove of personal information is ongoing,” the judge asserted last month as reported by NBC News. “There is no reason to believe their access to this information will end anytime soon because the government believes their access is appropriate.”
This move comes on the heels of lawsuits filed by various unions representing both current and former federal employees. These lawsuits aimed to prevent the Trump Administration from allowing DOGE access to what they deem ‘sensitive data’ from key federal departments.
NBC News highlighted Judge Boardman’s concerns that DOGE personnel, given ‘unauthorized access,’ might utilize the data to compile comprehensive profiles of the plaintiffs’ familial, professional, or financial situations.
In Thursday’s proceedings, Judge Boardman extended the TRO until March 17 at 5 pm. However, the Court’s decision on a preliminary injunction motion could potentially impact this timeline.
The judge indicated a possibility of extending the TRO further, until March 24 at 8 am, to allow for a thorough review.
BREAKING: Court extends the TRO in the case below.
— Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland)
March 6, 2025
Stay tuned, patriots, as we continue to monitor this developing story, one that underscores the ongoing battle over data access and privacy rights in America.
