In a surprising development, the Trump administration has agreed to temporarily restrict access to the U.S. Treasury Department’s payment systems by staffers from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This decision follows a lawsuit filed by union members and retirees, who argue that providing DOGE with access to sensitive federal financial data violated privacy laws.
The lawsuit, filed in response to Treasury’s actions under newly appointed Secretary Scott Bessent, contends that the decision to grant access to DOGE staff was made without proper oversight. The plaintiffs claim this access could lead to the exposure of personal information, potentially causing irreparable harm. They argue that unauthorized third parties, including Musk’s staff, could mishandle or intentionally disclose private data.
As part of a proposed order submitted by the Justice Department, the Treasury will now restrict access to its records, with exceptions made only for two special government employees — Tom Krause and Marko Elez — who will have “read-only” access as necessary to perform their duties. This restriction will remain in place until a full hearing on the case.
The lawsuit accuses Bessent of allowing individuals outside of the Treasury’s financial processing team to access sensitive records, an action they describe as unlawful. However, the Justice Department has denied allegations that any personal information is being shared with third parties outside of Treasury. They claim that the access granted to two DOGE employees does not entail disclosing sensitive data to Musk or others.
This legal clash has sparked fierce criticism from Democrats, who argue that Musk’s influence over government systems without appropriate checks and balances is troubling. As Musk continues to shape the Trump administration’s approach to government efficiency, his critics see him as an unelected and unaccountable figure consolidating power over the nation’s most sensitive financial operations.
Musk, however, maintains that DOGE’s efforts are focused on eliminating wasteful spending, positioning his group as a much-needed force for bureaucratic reform. With future legal proceedings expected, the outcome of this case could have lasting implications for the role of private figures in federal agencies.
