OPM asks judge to dismiss federal workers’ lawsuit, files privacy assessment of email system

Summary: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has requested a judge to dismiss a lawsuit from federal workers regarding the use of a new email server without a required privacy impact assessment (PIA). OPM submitted a new PIA to support its case while defending its use of the email system which is asserted to operate securely within government infrastructure. The lawsuit follows the administration’s mass email communications to federal employees, including controversial messaging encouraging resignations.

Affected: Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

Keypoints :

• The lawsuit claims the Trump administration violated the law by not conducting a PIA before using the new email system.
• OPM argues that the E-Government Act’s requirements don’t apply as the system is internal to government operations.
• The newly drafted PIA asserts that the email system operates securely on government computers, minimizing risk of unauthorized access.