The U.S. Treasury Department has temporarily agreed to block Elon Musk‘s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing government payment records while a lawsuit is being reviewed. The lawsuit, filed on Monday, claims that DOGE illegally accessed sensitive government data, including records of tax payments, Social Security benefits, and federal employee salaries.
The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C., by a coalition of federal employee unions and retirees, accuses the Treasury of violating privacy laws by granting Musk’s agency “full access” to these records. In response, Treasury lawyers argued in court that only two people affiliated with DOGE had been granted read-only access to the department’s payment systems. Both individuals, they clarified, were special government employees working with the Treasury.
On Wednesday, Treasury and the plaintiffs reached a temporary agreement. The deal will prevent DOGE or anyone else affiliated with it from accessing these records while the lawsuit proceeds. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized in a Fox Business interview that Musk’s department would not interfere with government payments. He clarified that any decisions regarding payments would be made by other agencies, not DOGE.
This agreement comes as Musk’s efforts to streamline federal operations through his agency have sparked controversy, particularly around privacy and transparency concerns. The case will continue to unfold as a judge reviews the arguments.
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