NEW YORK, NY — A federal judge has refused to keep secret the identities of government-linked personnel granted access to sensitive federal data systems, denying a request by U.S. officials to reconsider an order requiring their names to be disclosed.
In a ruling issued in Manhattan, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote rejected the government’s motion to maintain confidentiality for 16 individuals referred to in court filings as “DOGE Agents.” The decision means their identities will remain unsealed as litigation continues over access to federal personnel records.
Dispute Centers on Access to Sensitive Data
The case stems from a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Government Employees and other groups challenging actions by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
According to prior court findings, OPM granted a group of individuals broad access to systems containing personal data on tens of millions of Americans following the 2025 presidential transition. The court previously ruled that plaintiffs were likely to succeed in showing those actions violated cybersecurity practices and federal law, issuing a preliminary injunction in June 2025.
Government Sought to Keep Names Confidential
Throughout the case, the government labeled the identities of the individuals as confidential under a protective order, replacing their names in public filings with anonymized labels such as “OPM-1.”
Plaintiffs later challenged that designation, arguing the public has a right to know who was granted access to such sensitive information.
In April, the court agreed and ordered the names unsealed. The government then filed a motion asking the judge to reconsider that decision.
Court Rejects Reconsideration Request
Judge Cote denied the motion, allowing the earlier order to stand. While the opinion does not revisit all underlying arguments, the ruling reinforces the court’s position that the identities should not remain hidden under the protective order.
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Key Points
• Federal judge denied government request to keep “DOGE Agents” identities secret
• Case involves access to sensitive records of tens of millions of Americans
• Names of 16 individuals will remain unsealed as lawsuit proceeds
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Broader Case Still Ongoing
The unsealing dispute is one part of a larger legal battle over how federal agencies manage and share sensitive personal data. The court has already rejected attempts to dismiss the case and continues to oversee ongoing proceedings.
Current Status
The identities of the individuals at issue are no longer shielded by confidentiality in the case, and the lawsuit against OPM and other federal entities remains active in the Southern District of New York.
Keywords: federal data access lawsuit, OPM case, court unsealing decision