DOGE must comply with FOIA requests for data

U.S. citizens can find out what personal data the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has collected on them. They can do this by making a request under the Privacy Act. Recently, a federal judge stated that DOGE must comply with public disclosure laws, including Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Congressman Jamie Raskin has encouraged people to exercise their rights to seek their data from DOGE. A lawsuit by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) pushed for transparency from DOGE. They filed FOIA requests to learn about the agency's actions, especially during significant changes in federal programs in President Trump's second term. The court ruled that DOGE must handle CREW's request quickly due to public interest. Tesla CEO Elon Musk leads DOGE and aims to reduce the federal budget by $2 trillion a year. He has started gathering information for potential cuts in government departments. This has raised concerns about privacy, making government transparency even more important. Raskin's advocacy for privacy rights aligns with efforts to ensure government accountability regarding data collection. The Privacy Act of 1974 gives U.S. citizens specific rights about their records held by federal agencies. Federal agencies cannot share personal information without consent, unless exceptions apply. To request personal data from DOGE, citizens should follow specific steps. Additional resources are available from agencies like the Department of Energy and the Treasury Department to help guide the request process.