- United States
- Ohio
- Letter
The Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) efforts to access sensitive government data without proper justification or adherence to privacy laws is highly concerning. Court rulings have found DOGE employees were granted excessive access to databases containing personal financial information, employment records, and other private details of millions of Americans, often in violation of laws like the Privacy Act. This unfettered access has occurred without clear explanations from DOGE on why such expansive data is needed or how it will be protected. Judges have criticized the rushed and cavalier manner in which DOGE has pursued this data grab across multiple federal agencies. There is a lack of transparency around DOGE's activities and motivations. The public has a right to know the intended purpose behind assembling these massive troves of personal data, the safeguards in place to prevent misuse or unauthorized disclosure, and the legal basis for such broad access. Allowing a government entity to amass this level of private information without sufficient oversight poses an unacceptable risk to civil liberties. Immediate action is needed to restrict DOGE's data access, compel accountability for any legal violations that have occurred, and implement robust privacy protections moving forward. The American people's trust in their government's ability to handle sensitive personal data responsibly is at stake.
