A federal judge has blocked Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive Treasury Department records, sparking a nationwide debate on privacy and government overreach.
At a Glance
- Federal judge halts DOGE’s access to Treasury Department’s central payment system
- Lawsuit filed by 19 Democratic Attorneys General alleges illegal access to sensitive data
- DOGE’s access could potentially affect millions of Americans’ personal and financial information
- Critics claim this could be the largest data breach in American history
- Treasury Department maintains the review is for system integrity assessment
Federal Court Blocks DOGE’s Access to Sensitive Data
A federal judge has issued an injunction preventing Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive records held by the Treasury Department. The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by 19 Democratic Attorneys General against President Trump’s administration, alleging illegal access to the Treasury’s central payment system.
The central payment system in question manages a vast array of critical government functions, including tax refunds, Social Security payments, and veterans’ benefits. It contains extensive personal and financial data on millions of Americans, raising significant privacy concerns.
Let’s cut through the bullshit and get to the facts.
❔ Claim: Judge Paul Engelmayer has unilaterally forbidden all of Trump’s political appointees—including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent—from accessing Treasury Department data.
🤌🏻 Fact-Check: This is a gross… https://t.co/tu1un2CQnt pic.twitter.com/rMhN9t4Um1
— Pete (@splendid_pete) February 9, 2025
Destruction of Downloaded Information Ordered
Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, who issued the ruling, has ordered the destruction of any sensitive information already downloaded by DOGE. A hearing has been set for February 14 to further address the matter. This development has sent shockwaves through both government and privacy advocacy circles.
In response to the ruling, Musk says the judge should be impeached.
“This unelected group, led by the world’s richest man, is not authorized to have this information, and they explicitly sought this unauthorized access to illegally block payments that millions of Americans rely on, payments for health care, child care and other essential programs,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said.
DOGE was established with the stated purpose of identifying and eliminating wasteful government spending. However, its access to Treasury records has raised security concerns among critics who argue that such access could lead to an illegal freeze of federal funds and unauthorized blocking of essential payments.
Legal and Constitutional Concerns
The lawsuit claims that DOGE’s access violates federal law, administrative law, and the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stands accused of altering policies to allow DOGE access to sensitive information, further complicating the legal landscape of this case.
“This is the largest data breach in American history,” Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said.
The Treasury Department, for its part, maintains that the review is solely to assess system integrity, with no changes being made to the data. However, this claim has done little to assuage the concerns of privacy advocates and Democratic lawmakers, who are seeking further investigation and legal action against DOGE’s access.
