A federal judge appointed by President Joe Biden, Judge Deborah Boardman, has temporarily blocked Elon Musk’s newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive personal records at the Department of Education (DoEd). The records, which contain financial data related to federal student loans and other personal information, were being sought as part of DOGE’s cost-cutting efforts. Boardman issued a two-week restraining order against the DoEd and the Office of Personnel Management, citing concerns over unauthorized access to private data.

The order follows a lawsuit alleging that the administration unlawfully allowed DOGE personnel to access records containing sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers, birthdates, home addresses, and financial details. Judge Boardman found that the plaintiffs were likely to suffer irreparable harm without injunctive relief, granting the temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent further disclosure of their data. The ruling has raised significant concerns about privacy and the ongoing access to sensitive information by DOGE affiliates.