Democratic attorneys general from Vermont and at least a dozen other states have filed a lawsuit to stop Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing federal payment systems containing Americans’ sensitive personal information. The attorneys general, including Vermont’s Charity Clark, argue that the transfer of data from the Treasury Department to DOGE violates federal laws and puts Americans at risk of data breaches. They also express concerns about potential security risks and missed payments for programs like Social Security and Medicare.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, seeks a temporary restraining order to prevent the transfer of data to DOGE. Although a federal judge has already ruled that only Musk’s allies have “read only” access to Treasury Department payment systems for now, the attorneys general are pushing to further restrict this access. They accuse DOGE of seeking unauthorized access to block critical payments that millions of Americans rely on.
Furthermore, Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, have raised alarm over Musk’s involvement in shrinking the size of the U.S. government and gaining access to sensitive data held by agencies like FEMA. The lawsuit aims to hold Musk accountable and prevent further privacy invasions.
The White House has not yet responded to the lawsuit, but the attorneys general are hopeful that the court will hear oral arguments soon. With concerns about Musk wielding too much power within the government, the attorneys general are taking action to protect Americans’ privacy and ensure the integrity of federal payment systems.
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