Musk’s DOGE Grabs Your Data – Here’s How to Get It Back
A federal court has partially sided with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) in a FOIA lawsuit against Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). While not all of CREW's requests were granted, the court ordered expedited processing of one key request, signaling potential concerns about DOGE's activities. Learn how this legal battle, combined with Rep. Raskin's call for Privacy Act requests, is intensifying scrutiny of DOGE.
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In an unprecedented expansion of access to Americans’ private information, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sparked growing alarm among privacy advocates and elected officials. Established in January 2025 under the second Trump administration, DOGE has rapidly gained access to sensitive databases across multiple federal agencies. Now, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) is leading a citizen-focused counteroffensive, empowering Americans to discover exactly what personal data this controversial agency holds.
What Is DOGE and Why Should You Be Concerned?
The Department of Government Efficiency was ostensibly created to streamline government operations and reduce costs. However, its rapid integration into critical government systems has raised serious questions about data privacy and potential abuse of power.
DOGE now has access to systems across multiple sensitive agencies, including:
- Treasury Department (including the Bureau of Fiscal Service’s payment system)
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- Social Security Administration (SSA)
- Department of Education
This access encompasses an alarming array of personal information, including your financial records, Social Security numbers, work histories, tax returns, and potentially much more.
What makes this particularly concerning is the unprecedented concentration of sensitive data under the influence of a single unelected individual. As a “special government employee,” Elon Musk wields extraordinary influence without the traditional oversight applied to regular government officials.
The Legal Battle Intensifies
The fight to rein in DOGE’s expansive data access is playing out in multiple courts across the country, with mixed results so far:
On March 10, 2025, U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper issued a significant order in response to a lawsuit filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). The judge ordered expedited processing of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request related to DOGE, signaling potential judicial concerns about the agency’s activities.
The court also directed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the United States Digital Service (USDS) to provide an estimate of responsive records and negotiate a processing timeline with CREW.
While a federal judge in Washington, D.C. recently declined to block DOGE’s access to Treasury systems in one case, a separate court order in New York has restricted DOGE’s access in another legal challenge. These conflicting rulings highlight the ongoing judicial debate over the agency’s authority and data collection practices.
Your Right to Know: The Federal Privacy Act
As these legal battles continue, Rep. Raskin has empowered citizens to take direct action using an often-overlooked tool: the Federal Privacy Act of 1974.
This crucial legislation grants every American the right to:
- Access records held by federal agencies that pertain to them
- Request corrections to inaccurate information
- Be protected against unwarranted invasions of privacy
“The Privacy Act is a powerful tool for transparency and accountability,” Rep. Raskin explained in a recent statement. “By filing these requests, Americans can discover exactly what information DOGE has collected about them and how it’s being used.”
How to Take Action Now
Rep. Raskin has streamlined the process for citizens to file Privacy Act requests with DOGE. Here’s how you can take action to protect your personal information:
- Visit Rep. Raskin’s website to access the fillable Privacy Act request form: https://act.jamieraskin.com/go/370
- Complete the form with your personal information, specifically requesting all records pertaining to you held by DOGE
- Mail the completed form to the address provided
- Complete the follow-up form on Rep. Raskin’s website to receive updates on your request
Privacy experts recommend filing these requests as soon as possible, as the volume of requests may increase significantly as public awareness grows.
Musk’s Conflicts of Interest Raise Additional Concerns
Beyond the privacy implications, Musk’s dual role as both a government official and a business leader with extensive government contracts has sparked concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
As the owner of companies like SpaceX, Tesla, and X (formerly Twitter), Musk maintains significant business relationships with the very government agencies whose data he now potentially has access to through DOGE.
This unprecedented arrangement has led critics to question whether adequate safeguards exist to prevent the misuse of sensitive government information for private gain.
The Bottom Line
As DOGE continues to expand its reach into federal data systems, the need for transparency and accountability has never been more urgent. By exercising your rights under the Federal Privacy Act, you not only protect your own information but also contribute to the broader effort to ensure government data practices respect citizens’ privacy.
“This isn’t just about what information is being collected today,” notes privacy advocate Maria Chen. “It’s about establishing guardrails that protect all Americans’ data from potential abuse, now and in the future.”
While the legal challenges to DOGE’s authority continue to unfold, one thing is clear: citizen engagement will play a crucial role in determining the ultimate balance between government efficiency and personal privacy in the digital age.
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