Government Blocks DOGE Access to Department of Labor Data Until Friday Hearing
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is temporarily blocked from accessing sensitive Department of Labor (DOL) data and access to its systems — thanks to an agreement with the federal government until a judge hears the case Friday.
On Wednesday, Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit on behalf of a coalition of federal unions to block DOGE from unlawfully accessing DOL data and systems. According to a court order issued hours later, the DOL reached an agreement with the plaintiffs to block DOGE access to data until a federal judge rules on a motion for a temporary restraining order Friday.
Feb. 5:
Federal Unions Sue DOGE Over Department of Labor Data Access
Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit Wednesday — on behalf of a coalition of federal unions — against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to block access to Department of Labor (DOL) data.
According to the lawsuit, DOGE — the Elon Musk-led faux agency tasked with cutting down federal spending — is prepping to demand DOL employees to hand over sensitive data and access to the department’s computer system, similar to what it’s done to Department of the Treasury, the Office of Personnel and Management and USAID.
“DOGE seeks to gain access to sensitive systems before courts can stop them, dismantle agencies before Congress can assert its prerogatives in the federal budget, and intimidate and threaten employees who stand in their way, worrying about the consequences later,” the lawsuit said.
“The results have already been catastrophic. DOGE has seized control of some of the most carefully-protected information systems housed at the Treasury Department, taken hold of all sensitive personnel information at the Office of Personnel Management, and dismantled an entire agency within a week.”
On Tuesday evening, some employees at the DOL were ordered to give DOGE access to any information that they asked for, “or risk termination,” the lawsuit stated. Another DOL employee was told by leadership that, “when Mr. Musk and his team visit the Department, they are to do whatever they ask, not to push back, not to ask questions.” And the employee was told to provide access to any DOL system that Musk or DOGE personnel request access to, even if there’s certain security protocols to be followed. “Based on leadership’s statements, the employee believed they could face termination if they did not comply,” the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit — filed by some of the nation’s largest federal labor unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees — asked a federal court to step in and block DOGE from unlawfully accessing DOL systems and sensitive information. The lawsuit also asked the court to prevent DOL from retaliating against any employee who refuses to provide information or access to DOGE personnel.
A similar lawsuit was filed to block DOGE’s access to information and computer systems at the Department of Treasury. A hearing for that lawsuit was held Wednesday afternoon.