Court Halts Access to Sensitive Data After Unions Sue Over Privacy Breach

A US judge has ordered a halt to access of sensitive personal data after unions representing millions of teachers and nurses sued the government. The lawsuit alleges that six Department of Education (and Office of Personnel Management) employees with ties to a group called DOGE had unauthorized access to highly sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, addresses, and financial details. The judge ruled that the government failed to demonstrate a legitimate 'need-to-know' for such broad access, citing a lack of precedent and violation of data privacy regulations. This highlights significant vulnerabilities in government data security and raises concerns about the protection of personal information.