Obama-Appointed Judge Grants Musk Access to Student Loan Info

A federal judge has ruled in favor of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), granting it permission to access student loan records despite opposition from student organizations, who argue that such access could lead to significant harm.

This decision follows Musk’s commitment to reducing federal expenditures by as much as $2 trillion annually, which includes substantial cuts to federal student loan programs.

On February 17, U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss in Washington, D.C., denied a request for a temporary restraining order against Acting Secretary of Education Denise Carter. This ruling allows Carter to provide DOGE with student loan data. The University of California Student Association (UCSA) had sought to block this action, contending that granting DOGE access to student loan details would violate privacy rights and could be misused.

Moss, an appointee of President Barack Obama, stated in his ruling: “UCSA’s members are not suffering (and will not suffer) an irreparable harm.”

He cited the 1984 case Wisconsin Gas Co. v. F.E.R.C., explaining that “In general, injuries are not ‘irreparable’ if there is a ‘possibility’ that ‘adequate compensatory or other corrective relief will be available at a later date.’”

Additionally, the judge ruled that existing laws, such as the Privacy Act and the Internal Revenue Code, “provide a private right of action and money damages” in cases where DOGE engages in “unauthorized disclosures” of student information.

“To the extent UCSA members have been injured by violations of these statutes, and they meet the other requirements for obtaining relief, there is at least a ‘possibility’ of compensatory relief at a later date,” Moss noted in his decision, as reported by Newsweek.

While acknowledging the California student group’s concerns that once private information is disclosed, it cannot be retracted, Moss maintained that this alone does not constitute irreparable harm.

“What UCSA overlooks is that the context of the dissemination matters. Courts find dissemination of information to be an irreparable injury where, for example, highly sensitive information will be made public, or end up in the hands of someone with no obligation to keep it confidential,” he stated.

The ruling is a major setback for Democrats and their allied organizations that have sought to prevent DOGE’s federal budget reductions.

Although UCSA has the option to appeal to a federal circuit court, it currently lacks any legal means to stop DOGE from obtaining student loan data, according to Newsweek.

Moss also pointed out in his ruling that six federal employees are now dedicated full-time to facilitating collaboration between DOGE and the Department of Education. This partnership will persist unless a higher court intervenes.

Just last week, Musk publicly criticized a different federal judge who ruled against DOGE’s attempt to obtain certain data from the U.S. Treasury Department, calling for the judge’s removal from the bench.

On his social media platform, X, Musk expressed frustration, arguing that his team’s mission under President Donald Trump is to identify and eliminate waste and misuse within government systems.

When an X user pointed out that Congress has the power to impeach federal judges, Musk responded, “It’s time.”

The ruling in question came from U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, who issued a preliminary injunction after 19 Democratic attorneys general sued, alleging that the Trump administration had improperly granted Musk’s team access to the Treasury Department’s central payment system, in violation of federal regulations.

This payment system processes tax refunds, Social Security payments, veterans’ benefits, and more—handling trillions of dollars each year while safeguarding personal and financial data belonging to millions of Americans. A hearing on the case took place on February 14.

“I’d like to propose that the worst 1% of appointed judges, as determined by elected bodies, be fired every year,” Musk wrote in a social media post. “This will weed out the most corrupt and least competent.”

In a separate post, he added, “A corrupt judge protecting corruption. He needs to be impeached now!”

Shortly thereafter, Musk released another set of data, suggesting that billions in taxpayer funds may be allocated to individuals reportedly aged between 100 and 160 years old—some allegedly over 200 years old.