University of California students have taken legal action against the federal Education Department. They want to stop a group led by Elon Musk, known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), from accessing sensitive federal student financial aid information. This data affects over 42 million Americans.
Reports indicate that DOGE has placed around 20 staff members within the Education Department. These individuals have allegedly accessed secure systems that contain personal data of those involved in federal student aid programs.
According to the lawsuit, about 13% of people in the U.S. rely on federal student loans. The University of California Student Association, which represents all campuses in the system, claims that allowing DOGE access violates the federal Privacy Act and the Internal Revenue Code.
The Education Department holds highly confidential information, not just from borrowers but also from their family members. This includes Social Security numbers, birth dates, loan account details, and contact information. They also track demographic data such as marital status, veteran status, and income, which raises additional concerns about how this information is used and shared.
The lawsuit states that students seeking federal aid do not consent to having their sensitive information shared outside of loan processing and servicing. A spokesperson for the Education Department mentioned that they cannot comment on ongoing legal matters, and the White House has not yet provided a response.
Moreover, the lack of transparency around DOGE’s activities is troubling. The lawsuit highlights that there has been no public announcement regarding DOGE’s access to this sensitive data. Borrowers are left in the dark about whether their personal information is at risk of being shared or misused.
The lawsuit describes the situation as a significant invasion of privacy. It stresses that individuals taking federal student loans should not have their private data accessed by DOGE and that, according to federal law, they shouldn’t have to share this information without their knowledge or consent.
