A little-known law is in the spotlight: What to know about the Privacy Act of 1974

By Kathryn Fink,

Ailsa Chang, Jeanette Woods

Published March 12, 2025 at 5:26 PM EDT

The Privacy Act of 1974 protects personal information collected across federal agencies. Privacy groups and attorneys are invoking it to block access to personal records by DOGE.

Kathryn Fink

Kathryn Fink is a producer with NPR's All Things Considered.

Ailsa Chang

Ailsa Chang is an award-winning journalist who hosts All Things Considered along with Ari Shapiro, Audie Cornish, and Mary Louise Kelly. She landed in public radio after practicing law for a few years.

See stories by Ailsa Chang

Jeanette Woods

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A little-known law is in the spotlight: What to know about the Privacy Act of 1974