U.S. DOGE Service Access to Sensitive Agency Records Systems Multiagency FOIA
What's at Stake
There are serious privacy concerns raised by reports that the United States DOGE (“Department of Government Efficiency”) Service (“USDS”) has gained access to federal agency systems, including those housing sensitive information like federal payment data, student loan data or federal employee records, and may be using artificial intelligence technology in analyzing them. The ACLU submitted a FOIA request to more than 40 federal agencies to provide the public with information on what federal records the agencies have provided to or been asked for by the USDS and if sensitive information and key decision-making has been outsourced to unvetted technology.
Summary
On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order establishing "Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), and renaming the existing United States Digital Service to the “United States DOGE Service” (USDS), with a mandate to reduce government spending. According to press reports, individuals affiliated with the USDS have requested or gained access to federal agency databases and systems containing highly sensitive data, potentially including the Treasury Department’s payment system, federal student loan records, Medicare and Medicaid records, federal benefits payee records, and more. Additional reports have indicated that USDS may be using artificial intelligence in analyzing this sensitive information.
On Friday, February 7th, 2025, the ACLU filed a FOIA request to more than 40 federal agencies to gain clarity on which agencies’ data has been subject to USDS access, what federal database and sensitive information USDS requested or gained access to, any proposed use or use of AI in analyzing these records, and whether any consideration was given to obligations to protect sensitive information under federal privacy laws.