Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
12 States to Sue Over DOGE Access to Government Payment Systems Containing Personal Data
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 3 months ago on
February 6, 2025

Twelve state attorneys general prepare legal action against Elon Musk's DOGE over access to sensitive government payment systems. (AP File)

Share

Democratic attorneys general in several states vowed Thursday to file a lawsuit to stop Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing federal payment systems containing Americans’ sensitive personal information.

A dozen attorneys general, including New York’s Letitia James, said in a statement that they were taking action “in defense of our Constitution, our right to privacy, and the essential funding that individuals and communities nationwide are counting on.”

“As the richest man in the world, Elon Musk is not used to being told ‘no,’ but in our country, no one is above the law,” the statement said. “The President does not have the power to give away our private information to anyone he chooses, and he cannot cut federal payments approved by Congress.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday afternoon.

Concerns Over Security Risks and Missed Payments

Government officials and labor unions have been among those raising concerns about DOGE’s involvement with the payment system for the federal government, saying it could lead to security risks or missed payments for programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

Also Thursday, a federal judge ordered that two Musk allies have “read only” access to Treasury Department payment systems, but no one else will get access for now, including Musk himself. The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by federal workers unions trying to stop the billionaire’s DOGE from following through on what they call a massive privacy invasion.

It was not immediate clear when the Democratic attorneys general will file their lawsuit.

Joining James in the statement were the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Musk’s Role in Government Efficiency

President Donald Trump tapped Musk, the world’s richest man, to shrink the size of the U.S. government.

Democrats have criticized the tech billionaire’s maneuvers, which include the hostile seizure of taxpayer data and the apparent closure of the government’s leading international humanitarian aid agency.

DOGE recently has gained access to sensitive payment data within the Treasury Department. It came after Treasury’s acting Deputy Secretary David Lebryk resigned under pressure after more than 30 years of service. The Washington Post reported that Lebryk resigned after Musk and DOGE requested access to sensitive Treasury data.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified Draws Union Pushback in Social Media Battle With Teachers

DON'T MISS

Today Harvard Is the Target. Tomorrow It Could Be Your Church.

DON'T MISS

‘Luigi Mangione Act’ Seeks to Block Health Insurance Denials, Sparks Outrage Over Name

DON'T MISS

Jerry Springer — Yes, That Jerry Springer — Can Save the Democrats

DON'T MISS

Newark Airport Has Another Radar Outage

DON'T MISS

Judge Orders Release of Tufts Student Detained by ICE

DON'T MISS

White House Confirms Trump Fired Librarian of Congress

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Michael Lee Brewer

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Awards Honorary Doctorates to Educator, Prisons Official, Businessman

DON'T MISS

Floods Exposed Weaknesses in California Prisons’ Emergency Plans. They Still Aren’t Ready

UP NEXT

Today Harvard Is the Target. Tomorrow It Could Be Your Church.

UP NEXT

‘Luigi Mangione Act’ Seeks to Block Health Insurance Denials, Sparks Outrage Over Name

UP NEXT

Jerry Springer — Yes, That Jerry Springer — Can Save the Democrats

UP NEXT

Newark Airport Has Another Radar Outage

UP NEXT

Judge Orders Release of Tufts Student Detained by ICE

UP NEXT

White House Confirms Trump Fired Librarian of Congress

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Michael Lee Brewer

UP NEXT

Fresno State Awards Honorary Doctorates to Educator, Prisons Official, Businessman

UP NEXT

Floods Exposed Weaknesses in California Prisons’ Emergency Plans. They Still Aren’t Ready

UP NEXT

White House Dismisses Democrats on Consumer Product Safety Commission

Jerry Springer — Yes, That Jerry Springer — Can Save the Democrats

57 minutes ago

Newark Airport Has Another Radar Outage

1 hour ago

Judge Orders Release of Tufts Student Detained by ICE

1 hour ago

White House Confirms Trump Fired Librarian of Congress

2 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Michael Lee Brewer

2 hours ago

Fresno State Awards Honorary Doctorates to Educator, Prisons Official, Businessman

2 hours ago

Floods Exposed Weaknesses in California Prisons’ Emergency Plans. They Still Aren’t Ready

2 hours ago

White House Dismisses Democrats on Consumer Product Safety Commission

3 hours ago

Residents Stockpile Food, Rush to Bunkers as Conflict Rattles India and Pakistan

3 hours ago

Other States Are Showing California How to Protect Its Budget Without Cutting Needed Services

3 hours ago

Fresno Unified Draws Union Pushback in Social Media Battle With Teachers

Saying that Fresno Unified needs to focus on student outcomes rather than going after the Fresno Teachers Association, the Central Labor Cou...

40 minutes ago

https://www.communitymedical.org/thecause?utm_source=Misfit+Digital&utm_medium=GVWire+Banner+Ads&utm_campaign=Branding+2025&utm_content=thecause
40 minutes ago

Fresno Unified Draws Union Pushback in Social Media Battle With Teachers

48 minutes ago

Today Harvard Is the Target. Tomorrow It Could Be Your Church.

Suspect Luigi Mangione is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa. (Benjamin B. Braun/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP)
51 minutes ago

‘Luigi Mangione Act’ Seeks to Block Health Insurance Denials, Sparks Outrage Over Name

57 minutes ago

Jerry Springer — Yes, That Jerry Springer — Can Save the Democrats

Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. An air traffic control facility that guides planes at Newark Liberty suffered a 90-second radar outage just before 4 a.m on the morning of May 9, the latest technological disruption at one of the nation’s busiest airports. (Dakota Santiago/The New York Times)
1 hour ago

Newark Airport Has Another Radar Outage

People rally in support of Rumeysa Ozturk during a hearing at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse in Boston, on April 3, 2025. A federal judge said Ozturk’s detention threatened to chill the speech of millions of noncitizens. (Sophie Park/The New York Times)
1 hour ago

Judge Orders Release of Tufts Student Detained by ICE

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden speaks during a discussion with historians on how to "establish and preserve the narrative of January 6th" on the one-year anniversary of the attack on the Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2022. Al Drago/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
2 hours ago

White House Confirms Trump Fired Librarian of Congress

Michael Lee Brewer is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for May 8, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
2 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Michael Lee Brewer

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend