Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, LITIGATION NEWS, TRENDS—Unions seek to block alleged DOGE data breach, (Mar 10, 2025)
Organizations Mentioned:Social Security Administration
By WK Editorial Staff
Democracy Forward sought a TRO or preliminary injunction on behalf of AFSCME, the AFT, and the Alliance for Retired Americans.
On Friday, March 7, a coalition of unions and retirees filed a motion for a TRO, preliminary injunction, and/or stay to halt Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from allegedly unlawfully seizing personal, confidential, private, and sensitive data regarding millions of Americans from the Social Security Administration (SSA), AFSCME reported in a press release issued Saturday.
The amended complaint and motion for emergency relief, were filed on behalf of AFSCME, the Alliance for Retired Americans, and the AFT. The new pleadings in the case allege new facts allegedly showing “DOGE’s ongoing campaign at SSA, including statements from the current Acting Commissioner, who was previously suspended from his role at the agency, that ‘outsiders who are unfamiliar with nuances of SSA programs,’ are calling the shots.”
The new filings in the case, according to AFSCME, “underscore those threats: personnel from DOGE have accessed sensitive information and improper disclosure violates privacy and increases the risk of access by external actors, doxxing, identity theft, and financial crimes, among other risks.”
“Working people spent their lives paying into Social Security,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “They deserve to know their benefits and personal information are in safe hands. We will not stand by as an unaccountable, unelected billionaire undermines the promise that they can one day retire with dignity. We look forward to moving this case forward in court and stopping these reckless efforts to invade the Social Security Administration.”
The case is No.1:25-cv-00596-ELH.
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