Electronic Privacy Information Center v. U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Case Overview
EPIC, a non profit focused on privacy and civil liberties issues, and a federal employee sued the Trump administration over DOGE's access to the Treasury Department data under the Privacy Act, the Administrative Procedures Act, and 26 U.S.C. § 6103.
The Application
EPIC and the federal employee challenge whether DOGE received statutory authorization to access Treasury data, whether the Trump administration followed required Privacy Act procedures, and whether tax return information was disclosed in violation of § 6103's protective restrictions on tax data sharing.
The Conclusion
The case is currently active in the Eastern District of Virginia before Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr.; no decision on the merits has been issued as of the filing date of February 10, 2025.
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Case Analysis
Overview
EPIC, a non profit focused on privacy and civil liberties issues, and a federal employee sued the Trump administration over DOGE's access to the Treasury Department data under the Privacy Act, the Administrative Procedures Act, and 26 U.S.C. § 6103.
Issue
Whether the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) violated the Privacy Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and 26 U.S.C. § 6103 by accessing Treasury Department data containing personally identifiable information and tax return information without proper authorization or privacy safeguards.
Rule
The Privacy Act restricts federal agencies' disclosure of personally identifiable information; the APA requires agencies to act within their statutory authority and follow procedural requirements; and 26 U.S.C. § 6103 strictly limits disclosure of tax return information to specifically authorized purposes and entities.
Analysis
EPIC and the federal employee challenge whether DOGE received statutory authorization to access Treasury data, whether the Trump administration followed required Privacy Act procedures, and whether tax return information was disclosed in violation of § 6103's protective restrictions on tax data sharing.
Conclusion
The case is currently active in the Eastern District of Virginia before Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr.; no decision on the merits has been issued as of the filing date of February 10, 2025.
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