Denise Cote
Role at the time: U.S. district judge, Southern District of New York
Condemned
Statement summary
In her October 20 opinion, Judge Denise Cote rules that OPM acted unlawfully when it gave DOGE agents broad access to systems holding personal information without a demonstrated need. Because the access has been rescinded, she says it does not need to be set aside.
“OPM’s decision to grant DOGE Agents broad access to its systems of records containing PII without a demonstrated need was unlawful”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)AFGE v. OPM: October 20 opinion and order on summary judgmentNo. 1:25-cv-01237-DLC, Document 241; pages 1-5, 29-31 and 34-38
Judge Denise Cote rules on cross-motions for summary judgment in the federal unions' Privacy Act case against OPM, the U.S. DOGE Service and Elon Musk. Relief is left for a later ruling.
Why we used this label
The case concerns OPM's decision to give DOGE agents access to federal personnel records. Cote rules that the decision was unlawful, which condemns the conduct under scrutiny.