A federal judge has issued an order restricting the Elon Musk-led government efficiency team from accessing a critical Treasury Department payment system. The order, issued by District Judge Paul Engelmayer, temporarily stops the access and demands the destruction of any downloaded information due to the risk of 'irreparable harm.'
The order came in response to a suit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James and 18 other state attorneys general against the Trump administration. The judge cited concerns about the disclosure of sensitive and confidential information and the increased vulnerability to hacking.
The suit alleges that the team, known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and staffed by young associates categorized as 'special government employees,' was unlawfully granted access to the Treasury Department system previously restricted to specific government employees.
The DOGE initiative aims to drastically cut government costs but has faced objections for seeking access to critical computer systems, including the payment system. The judge has temporarily blocked the access and ordered a response from the president and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent by February 14.
Meanwhile, a federal judge ruled against limiting DOGE representatives from accessing Labor Department data, rejecting an emergency request by labor unions and a think tank. US District Judge John Bates expressed concerns about DOGE's operations but stated that the challengers had not demonstrated imminent harm to warrant court intervention at this time.
