The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) faces legal challenges as federal employee unions sue over alleged privacy violations, leading to restricted access to Treasury systems.
At a Glance
- DOGE’s access to sensitive Treasury data limited to “read-only” for two Musk affiliates
- Federal employee unions filed lawsuit against Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
- Lawsuit claims DOGE unlawfully accessed sensitive data, violating federal privacy laws
- Restrictions pending approval by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly until February 24
- Democratic lawmakers demand answers regarding DOGE’s operations and authority
Legal Battle Unfolds Over DOGE’s Treasury Access
The Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, is embroiled in a legal dispute that has resulted in temporary restrictions on its access to U.S. Treasury payment systems. This development comes in response to a lawsuit filed by federal employee unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees, the Service Employees International Union, and the Alliance for Retired Americans, against Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The Justice Department has agreed to limit DOGE’s access to sensitive Treasury data, allowing only “read-only” access to two Musk affiliates, Tom Krause and Marko Elez. This restriction is pending approval by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly and is set to remain in effect until February 24.
DOJ agrees to proposed order to limit DOGE's access to Treasury data — The hearing followed a lawsuit filed by three federal unions that alleged DOGE employees violated federal privacy laws when they accessed data from the Treasury Department, including the names, social… pic.twitter.com/tnGwFNePaB
— Doug Poppa Podcast (@dougpoppa1) February 6, 2025
Privacy Concerns and Legal Implications
The lawsuit alleges that DOGE’s access to sensitive data poses significant risks to the security of millions of Americans. The unions argue that the scale of potential privacy intrusion is unprecedented, given the unavoidable nature of financial transactions with the federal government.
“The scale of the intrusion into individuals’ privacy is massive and unprecedented. Millions of people cannot avoid engaging in financial transactions with the federal government and, therefore, cannot avoid having their sensitive personal and financial information maintained in government records,” the unions and advocacy group said.
In response to these concerns, the Justice Department has taken steps to restrict DOGE’s access. “The Defendants will not provide access to any payment record or payment system of records maintained by or within the Bureau of the Fiscal Service,” attorneys for the Justice Department stated.
DOGE’s Mission and Controversy
DOGE was created with the aim of reducing government spending and streamlining bureaucracy. Elon Musk, serving as a “special government employee” in the Trump administration, has been instrumental in shaping DOGE’s mission. Musk defends the department as necessary for reducing government waste, describing it as a “wood chipper for bureaucracy.”
However, the department’s operations have come under scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers. Senator Mark Warner and other members of the Senate Intelligence Committee have criticized the lack of transparency regarding DOGE’s operations and staff vetting processes.
