Nineteen Democratic attorneys general filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump to prevent Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive Treasury Department records containing millions of Americans' personal and financial data. The suit alleges the Trump administration violated federal law by granting DOGE access to the Treasury's central payment system, raising concerns about data security and the potential for disrupting federal funds.
FILE - Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump , left, claps as Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk prepares to depart after speaking at a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show, on Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa.
The payment system handles tax refunds, Social Security benefits, veterans' benefits, and much more, sending out trillions of dollars every year while containing an expansive network of Americans' personal and financial data.Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, was created to discover and eliminate what the Trump administration has deemed to be wasteful government spending.
“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,” James said in a video message released by her office.
The suit alleges that DOGE’s access to the Treasury records could interfere with funding already appropriated by Congress, which would exceed the Treasury Department’s statutory authority. The case also argues that the DOGE access violates federal administrative law and the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers doctrine.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said it's not clear what DOGE is doing with the information in the Treasury systems.
ELON MUSK DONALD TRUMP DOGE TREASURY DEPARTMENT DATA SECURITY
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