A federal judge has ruled in favor of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), granting it access to student loan data despite fierce opposition from student advocacy groups. The decision, handed down on February 17 by U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss in Washington, D.C., comes as Musk continues his aggressive push to slash federal spending by up to $2 trillion annually—including billions in student loan funding.

The ruling is a major setback for the University of California Student Association (UCSA), which had sought an emergency restraining order to block the Department of Education from providing DOGE with sensitive student loan information. The student group argued that the release of such data would violate privacy rights and open the door to potential misuse.

Judge Moss, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, disagreed, ruling that UCSA’s concerns about privacy breaches and data security did not amount to “irreparable harm.” He cited the 1984 case Wisconsin Gas Co. v. F.E.R.C., which states that an injury is not considered irreparable if there is a possibility of future compensation or corrective relief.

“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,’” Moss stated in his ruling. He also pointed to existing federal privacy laws, including the Privacy Act and the Internal Revenue Code, which provide legal recourse and monetary damages in cases where confidential information is mishandled.

While Moss acknowledged that once private information is disclosed, it cannot be undone, he stressed that context is crucial. “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 explained.

With the ruling in DOGE’s favor, the Department of Education can now proceed with providing the agency full access to student loan data. Currently, six federal employees are working full-time to coordinate between DOGE and the Department of Education, a collaboration that will remain in place unless a higher court intervenes.

A Setback for Opponents of Musk’s Government Overhaul

The decision marks a significant blow to Democrats and their allies who have been fighting against Musk’s sweeping government restructuring efforts. While UCSA still has the option to appeal the ruling in federal circuit court, it currently has no legal avenue to prevent DOGE from obtaining the data.

This ruling also comes amid a broader legal battle over DOGE’s access to various federal data systems. Just last week, a different judge temporarily blocked DOGE’s attempt to access the U.S. Treasury Department’s central payment system—a move that sparked a furious response from Musk.

Musk Calls for Impeachment of Federal Judges

Following the ruling against DOGE in the Treasury case, Musk took to his social media platform, X, to denounce U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, who had issued a preliminary injunction preventing DOGE from accessing federal payment records. Nineteen Democratic attorneys general had filed a lawsuit, arguing that the Trump administration improperly allowed Musk’s team access to a system that handles tax refunds, Social Security payments, veterans’ benefits, and other financial transactions.

Musk, who has positioned DOGE as a watchdog against government waste and fraud, accused Engelmayer of protecting corruption.

“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 post. “This will weed out the most corrupt and least competent.”

In another post, he added, “A corrupt judge protecting corruption. He needs to be impeached now!” His comments ignited a firestorm, with supporters rallying behind him while legal experts cautioned against attacking the judiciary.

Alarming Allegations of Fraud in Government Payments

Amid the controversy, Musk escalated his claims of widespread government fraud by posting a series of data points allegedly uncovered by DOGE. According to Musk, billions of taxpayer dollars are being sent to Americans listed as being between the ages of 100 and 160, with some payments even directed to individuals purportedly over 200 years old.

While the accuracy of these findings remains unverified, the allegations have added fuel to the ongoing debate over DOGE’s role in government oversight. Musk’s supporters argue that his department is exposing inefficiencies and fraud, while critics warn that unchecked access to sensitive data could lead to violations of privacy and due process.

The Legal Battle is Far from Over

With legal challenges on multiple fronts, Musk’s DOGE initiative remains under intense scrutiny. While the recent court ruling allows DOGE access to student loan data, the battle over Treasury records is still ongoing.

The next steps will likely involve further legal appeals and potentially congressional intervention, especially as Musk continues his vocal campaign for judicial impeachments.

For now, the federal government’s budget—and the extent of DOGE’s authority—hangs in the balance.