A federal judge early on Saturday prevented Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency” ( Doge ) from accessing Treasury Department records that contain sensitive personal information, including social security and bank account numbers for millions of Americans.
Following the lawsuit brought by 19 Democrat attorneys general against Donald Trump, US city judge Paul A. Engelmayer issued the preliminary order. The ‘s team’s access to the Treasury Department’s key payment system is claimed in the federal court case, which was filed in New York City, in violation of federal law.
The payment system processes tax refunds, social security benefits, veterans ‘ benefits, and many other things, sending out trillions of dollars annually while containing a sizable database of Americans ‘ personal and financial data.
Anyone who has been denied access to the sensitive information since January 20th, according to Engelmayer, who was appointed by Barack Obama, had instantly delete any files of the files downloaded from Treasury Department systems.
He set a reading for 14 February.
A request for comment on the complaint was not immediately addressed by the White House.
The New York attorney general, Letitia James, whose office filed the lawsuit, said Doge’s access to the bank agency’s information raised safety issues and the possibility of an improper ice in national resources.
In a video communication released by her business on Friday, James stated that” this unaccountable team, led by the world’s richest man, is not authorized to have this knowledge. They specifically sought this unauthorized access to illegally stop obligations that millions of Americans rely on, including payments for healthcare, babysitting, and other vital programs.”
James, a Democrat who has been one of Trump’s main protagonists, said the leader does not have the power to give away Americans ‘ personal information to people he chooses, and he cannot cut national payments approved by Congress.
What the Trump administration deemed to be inefficient state spending was discovered and eliminated by Musk’s Doge. Doge’s exposure to Treasury Records, as well as its examination of various government agencies, has sparked a lot of issue among critics who question Musk’s growing power, and supporters who are supportive of the idea of reining in sluggish government finances.
On his X social media platform, Musk mocked Doge while claiming it saved payers millions of dollars.
Says also included in the complaint are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.
Doge’s entry to the Treasury Records, according to the lawsuit, could impede funding that Congress has previously authorized, which would be above the bank department’s legislative authority. Additionally, the situation contends that the Doge exposure is infringed upon US Constitutional Law and the separation of powers principle.
Additionally, it accuses Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, of altering the department’s historic policy to help Musk’s Doge team to get its payment systems.
” This judgement failed to account for legal responsibility to protect such data and ignored the private expectations of national bank recipients”, including states, veterans, retirees and citizens, the lawsuit says.
Connecticut’s attorney general, William Tong, said it was not clear what Doge was doing with the information in the treasury systems.
” This is the largest data breach in American history”, Tong said in a statement on Friday. ” Doge is a band of renegade tech bros who have been trawling through sensitive financial records, sensitive data, and critical payment systems.” What could go wrong”?
The Treasury Department claimed that no changes were being made because the review was centered on assessing the system’s reliability. According to two people with knowledge of the procedure, Musk’s team began looking into ways to stop USAID, the US agency for international development, from making payments. The two individuals spoke with the Associated Press under the condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals.
Separately, Democratic lawmakers are seeking a treasury department investigation of Doge’s access to the government’s payment system.
Additionally, due to legal concerns, labor unions and advocacy organizations have filed lawsuits to stop the payments system review. A judge in Washington on Thursday temporarily stymied access to two employees who had “read only” rights.