Federal Judge Refuses to Block DOGE Access to Sensitive Government Data

The court declined urgent relief, noting lack of imminent harm but acknowledging data privacy concerns.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at the Hubert H. Humphrey building in Washington on April 28, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

A federal judge on Friday allowed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to continue to access sensitive data on millions of Americans at the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services, rejecting a push by labor unions and privacy advocates to block DOGE’s reach.

In a decision issued on June 27, U.S. District Judge John D. Bates in Washington denied a motion for a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit brought by a coalition that includes the AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union, and the Economic Policy Institute. The plaintiffs contended that DOGE lacks statutory authority to tap into confidential government systems that store personal information such as medical records, financial histories, Social Security numbers, and home addresses.