A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order preventing Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing a critical Treasury Department payment system. The judge cited concerns over potential data breaches and the risk of 'irreparable harm'.
A federal judge has temporarily halted Elon Musk 's Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ) from accessing a pivotal Treasury Department payment system, citing the possibility of 'irreparable harm.' US District Judge Paul Engelmayer in Manhattan issued the order early on Saturday following a coalition of Democratic attorneys general from 19 US states.
The court ruling prevents DOGE from accessing the system responsible for processing Social Security benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare payments to doctors, as well as payments to other federal agencies. The judge expressed apprehensions regarding the potential exposure of sensitive data and heightened vulnerability to hacking threats. Engelmayer also mandated the immediate destruction of any data downloaded from the system since January 20, when access was initially granted. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for February 14, with President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent required to submit their responses by then. The lawsuit alleges that Musk's team, classified as 'special government employees,' was unlawfully granted access to the Treasury system, which is typically reserved for designated government personnel. Musk's stated justification for this access is to combat 'fraud and waste' of taxpayer money by scrutinizing Treasury Department data. However, the coalition of states contends that granting access to DOGE, which is not an official government agency, violates federal regulations and jeopardizes residents' personal data. DOGE, a Trump administration initiative spearheaded by Musk, aims to reduce government spending but has faced criticism from agency officials for attempting to access critical systems. This legal dispute adds another layer of controversy to DOGE's operations, which have already drawn scrutiny for various reasons, including an attempt to overturn the constitutional guarantee to birthright citizenship. Another judge paused an effort to offer mass buyouts to federal workers on Thursday, pending arguments next week
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