A U.S. district judge, Paul Engelmayer, has issued an emergency order barring Elon Musk’s government reform team from accessing personal and financial data stored at the Treasury Department. The ruling comes as attorneys general from 19 states sue the Trump administration over what they claim is illegal access to federal payment systems.
Key Ruling Details
- The temporary order prevents all political appointees and external government employees from accessing Treasury Department data.
- Any data accessed since Trump’s inauguration on January 20 must be immediately destroyed.
- The order remains in effect until a February 14 hearing.
Musk’s Role in the Trump Administration
Elon Musk, despite not being a formal federal employee, is leading cost-cutting efforts under the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). However, DOGE is not an officially recognized government agency and lacks congressional approval.
Security Concerns and Allegations
- An internal Treasury Department report called DOGE’s access to federal payment systems “the single biggest insider threat” in history.
- The lawsuit alleges that Musk’s team had access to modify or view critical financial files, posing cybersecurity risks.
- Reports suggest that sensitive federal data was being fed into an AI system owned by a private third party.
Political and Legal Fallout
- Musk called the ruling politically motivated, accusing Democrats of covering up fraud.
- The lawsuit argues that Musk’s team was given “virtually unfettered access” to sensitive government data.
- More legal challenges are emerging against Trump’s rapid efforts to reshape government agencies.
This case could set a major precedent regarding the limits of executive power and data privacy in government. The upcoming February 14 hearing will likely be a crucial turning point.
