Elon Musk's DOGE Blocked By Federal Judge From Accessing Treasury Records Over Privacy, Security Concerns

2025-02-09 12:14:55

(MENAFN- Live Mint) A US federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction preventing Elon Musk's Department of government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive Treasury Department records containing personal data of millions of Americans.

The ruling came early Saturday (February 8) after 19 Democratic attorneys general sued President Donald trump , alleging that his administration violated federal law by granting Musk's team access to the Treasury's central payment system .

Judge orders destruction of downloaded data

US District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, ruled that any material obtained from the Treasury Department's systems since January 20 must be destroyed immediately. He scheduled a hearing for February 14 to further review the case.

Concerns over data security and federal payments

The Treasury's payment system manages tax refunds, Social Security benefits, and veterans' benefits, processing trillions of dollars annually. The lawsuit argues that DOGE 's access to such data could lead to unauthorised disruptions in federal fund distributions.

New York Attorney General Letitia James strongly opposed DOGE's access to these records, stating:“This unelected group, led by the world's richest man, is not authorized to have this information. They explicitly sought unauthorized access to illegally block payments that millions of Americans rely on.”

Attorney General Letitia James added that President Trump lacks the authority to hand over private financial data and freeze federal payments approved by Congress.

Democratic Attorneys General challenge Trump's decision

The lawsuit, filed in New York, includes attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. It alleges that DOGE's access to Treasury records could interfere with congressional appropriations, exceeding the department's legal authority.

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