Overreach

Federal Judge Halts Overreach in Social Security Data Probe, Cites Privacy Violations and Unjustified Intrusion

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WASHINGTON — A federal judge has imposed significant restrictions on the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) ability to access sensitive data at the Social Security Administration (SSA), describing the overreach as excessive and likening it to “hitting a fly with a sledgehammer.” This decision emerged from a lawsuit claiming that DOGE’s access to the data infringed on privacy laws and was unauthorized under the Administrative Procedures Act. U.S. District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander’s 137-page opinion highlighted that the Trump administration failed to provide a substantial justification for needing such broad access to the SSA’s databases. … Read more

Federal Judge Halts Trump’s Attempt to Fire MSPB Chair, Citing Presidential Overreach

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WASHINGTON — A federal judge has issued a permanent injunction that halts an attempt by President Donald Trump to dismiss Cathy Harris, the chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). The ruling underscores that the president does not have blanket authority to fire Harris, adhering to legal statutes that protect such positions unless there’s evidence of inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance. This landmark decision by District Judge Rudolph Contreras of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, represents a significant check on the presidential power to remove federal employees. The ruling … Read more

Revealed FDIC Documents Prompt Calls for Crypto Regulation Hearings Amid Allegations of Overreach

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The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has been spotlighted recently following the release of previously undisclosed documents concerning its interactions with the cryptocurrency market. These documents, which include so-called “pause letters” to banks about their crypto-related services, were made public via a Freedom of Information Act request that required court intervention. Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal has condemned the findings, labeling them as a stark instance of regulatory overreach towards legitimate cryptocurrency businesses. He further criticized the FDIC, accusing it of concealing other directives that were only unearthed after persistent legal efforts revealed further … Read more

Blockchain Leaders Challenge IRS Over New Crypto Broker Rules, Citing Privacy Concerns and Regulatory Overreach

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Washington, D.C. – The Blockchain Association, along with the Texas Blockchain Council and the DeFi Education Fund, has initiated legal action against the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), contesting the agency’s latest regulatory framework targeting the DeFi (decentralized finance) sector. This lawsuit arises from concerns that the updated rules overstep legal boundaries and infringe on privacy rights. These regulations, finalized just days ago, are scheduled to be enforced starting in 2027, and will mandate crypto brokers to report all cryptocurrency transactions conducted on their platforms, encompassing decentralized exchanges (DEXs). Moreover, the IRS will require these … Read more