Janice R. Andrews
Federal Judge Halts Musk Organization’s Access to Treasury Financial Data
A federal court has temporarily blocked the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established under Elon Musk, from accessing sensitive Treasury Department data containing personal financial information of millions of Americans.
The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, comes in response to a lawsuit filed by 19 Democratic state attorneys general challenging the Trump administration’s decision to grant DOGE access to the Treasury’s central payment system. This system handles critical government disbursements including tax refunds, Social Security payments, and veterans’ benefits.
In his Saturday ruling, Judge Engelmayer ordered any parties with unauthorized access since January 20 to destroy all acquired data and set a follow-up hearing for February 14.
The controversy centers on DOGE’s role as a government spending watchdog. While proponents view it as necessary oversight, critics, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, argue it gives Musk inappropriate control over federal financial systems. James expressed concern about potential illegal payment freezes affecting healthcare and childcare support.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong characterized the situation as unprecedented, referring to it as “the largest data breach in American history” and criticizing DOGE as “an unlawfully constituted band of renegade tech bros.”
Musk defended DOGE on X (formerly Twitter), claiming the initiative saves taxpayer money. The White House has not responded to the ruling. Meanwhile, Democratic legislators are calling for a Treasury investigation, and various labor unions and advocacy groups have filed additional legal challenges.
A separate ruling by a Washington judge on Thursday restricted Treasury data access for two DOGE employees, adding to the mounting legal pressure on the organization. As legal challenges continue, questions persist about DOGE’s future role in federal financial oversight.
