U.S. Education Department Temporarily Bars Elon Musk’s Team from Student Data Access
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Education has agreed to a temporary injunction preventing Elon Musk’s government efficiency team, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), from accessing the personal and financial data of millions of students.
The agreement, signed by U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss on Tuesday, follows a lawsuit filed last week by a group of college students in California. The plaintiffs allege that DOGE violated privacy laws by infiltrating the Education Department’s information systems.
Court Injunction
The injunction will remain in effect until at least next Monday, barring any members of DOGE from accessing or using information from federal student aid databases. The court order also prohibits any employees detailed to the agency after January 19 from accessing the same systems.
Alleged Privacy Violations
According to the lawsuit, Musk’s team gained access to vast student databases, including those containing personally identifiable information such as names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and financial aid records. The plaintiffs argue that this access violated the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which protects the privacy of student records.
DOGE’s Role
DOGE was established by Musk shortly after he was appointed to President Donald Trump’s National Economic Council. The team’s mission is to identify and implement cost-cutting measures across the federal government.
Trump’s Support
President Trump has fully supported Musk’s cost-cutting efforts. On Monday, the Education Department abruptly canceled nearly $1 billion in educational research contracts, gutting the agency’s data-collecting arm.
Speaking alongside the president in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Musk emphasized the importance of government reform. "The people voted for major government reform and that’s what the people are going to get," he said.
Student Reaction
Dan Zibel, vice president of the National Student Legal Defense Network, which represents the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, welcomed the court’s decision. "While today’s agreement puts further damage on hold, we look forward to putting a permanent end to these egregious violations," he said.
Next Steps
The injunction is a temporary measure, and the lawsuit is expected to continue. The court is scheduled to hold a hearing on the case on February 13.
The Education Department has declined to comment on the lawsuit or the injunction.
