Sat Feb 08 06:54:25 UTC 2025: **Federal Judge Blocks Elon Musk’s Access to Sensitive US Treasury Data**
**New York, NY –** A federal judge has blocked Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive personal data held by the US Treasury Department, following a lawsuit filed by nineteen Democratic attorneys general. The lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration illegally granted DOGE, created to identify wasteful government spending, access to the Treasury’s central payment system, which handles trillions of dollars in payments annually and contains the personal financial information of millions of Americans.
The attorneys general argue that DOGE’s access violates federal law, raises significant security concerns, and threatens the potential for illegal freezes on federal funds. New York Attorney General Letitia James described the situation as the “largest data breach in American history,” emphasizing that DOGE, led by the world’s richest man, is not authorized to possess this information. The lawsuit also claims DOGE’s actions could interfere with Congressionally approved funding and violate the separation of powers.
The Treasury Department maintains that the review aims to assess system integrity and that no changes are being made. However, sources suggest that DOGE initially focused on suspending payments from the U.S. Agency for International Development, an agency targeted for dismantling by both Trump and Musk.
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers are pushing for a Treasury Department investigation, and labor unions and advocacy groups have filed separate lawsuits to block the review. A Washington judge has already temporarily restricted access for two DOGE employees. Musk, on his X platform, has dismissed criticism, claiming DOGE is saving taxpayers millions. The legal battle over access to this sensitive data continues.
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