Federal Judge Extends Block on DOGE's Access to Treasury Payment Systems
A federal judge has extended a temporary order blocking DOGE from accessing the Treasury Department's payment systems amidst a lawsuit from 19 state attorneys general challenging its access.
A federal judge has extended a temporary order that prevents Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team from accessing payment systems within the Treasury Department.
This extension follows a lawsuit filed by 19 state attorneys general against the Trump administration, challenging DOGE's access to critical information pertaining to Americans’ Social Security, Medicare, veterans' benefits, tax refunds, and more.
The lawsuit, spearheaded by New York Attorney General Letitia James, accuses the agency of illegally accessing the Treasury Department's central payment system under the direction of the Trump administration.
U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan has not yet made a ruling on a request for a longer preliminary injunction, thus maintaining the temporary order established last Saturday.
In response to concerns about DOGE's access, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent assured that the payment systems are secure, stating, "DOGE is not going to fail." He emphasized that the Treasury processes over 1.3 billion payments each year and that the current focus is on enhancing accountability and traceability within the payment system.
DOGE, aimed at reducing government waste, has gained access to various government agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Education, and the Department of Labor.
