The U.S. Treasury Department has agreed to temporarily block access to its payment systems for Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) while a lawsuit regarding privacy violations is being heard. The lawsuit, filed by a group of federal employee unions and retirees, claims that the Treasury Department illegally granted DOGE full access to sensitive government payment records. These records reportedly include income tax payments, Social Security benefits, and federal employee salaries. The plaintiff group argues that this access constitutes a violation of privacy laws.
Treasury lawyers, however, maintain that only two individuals affiliated with DOGE had read-only access to the payment systems.
These two individuals were identified as special government employees within the Treasury. Despite this defense, the Treasury Department has agreed to the temporary suspension of further access while the case proceeds. The deal reached on Wednesday night is intended to prevent any additional sensitive records from being turned over to DOGE while the legal proceedings unfold.
During a court hearing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that no changes would be made to the department’s payment system by Musk’s agency. He clarified that decisions related to stopping payments would be handled by other federal agencies, not DOGE. The lawsuit has sparked concerns over privacy and government transparency, as it is feared that Musk’s involvement could potentially lead to a broader crackdown on government spending and resources.
The legal battle centers around the balance between government efficiency and individual privacy rights. The Treasury’s temporary concession ensures that the privacy of government payment records is protected while the case is in litigation. It remains to be seen whether further legal actions will be taken to address the concerns raised by the unions and retirees.
