Labor groups sue to keep DOGE from key economic data

The big picture: The Labor Department houses an enormous amount of confidential data, and includes the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which produces important economic data, including inflation readings and market-critical employment statistics.

State of play: DOGE staff reportedly met with management at the Department of Labor earlier on Wednesday, raising fears that data, include sensitive information about worker complaints, was at risk.

• The lawsuit raises the possibility that worker complaints against Musk himself may be housed there.

Zoom in: The plaintiffs are asking the D.C. federal court for a temporary restraining order to keep DOGE out.

• The judge assigned to the suit set a hearing for Friday afternoon, and said the Labor Department has promised to keep DOGE from accessing its data until then.
• The hearing is scheduled for after the release of the monthly jobs report, which is due Friday morning.

What they're saying: "Absent this Court's intervention, DOGE will have access to highly sensitive data," the plaintiffs allege.

• They specifically cite the prospect of DOGE teams accessing BLS data, which is some of the most closely watched and market-sensitive macroeconomic information in the world.

• "A DOGE takeover of the type seen at other agencies could overturn over a century of the BLS's independence and turn it from a reliable source of data across the economy into a far less valuable political mouthpiece," they write.

The plaintiffs include the AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, Service Employees International Union and the progressive Economic Policy Institute.

• They collectively represent more than 4 million workers.
• The Department of Labor and acting secretary Vince Micone are the named defendants. A spokesman for the department was not immediately available for comment.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated with details on the next hearing in the case.