Democratic attorneys general from multiple states announced on Thursday their intention to launch a legal challenge against Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) concerning its access to federal payment systems that store sensitive personal data of U.S. citizens.
Thirteen attorneys general, including Letitia James from New York, issued a statement asserting that they are taking action “to preserve our Constitution, our right to privacy, and the critical funding that individuals and communities across the nation rely on.” They emphasize that as the wealthiest individual globally, Musk may not be accustomed to facing opposition, but stated firmly, “no one is above the law in our nation.” The statement also pointed out that it is beyond the President’s authority to transfer citizens’ private information to any party at will or alter federal payments that Congress has sanctioned.
The White House did not provide a response to queries regarding the matter on Thursday afternoon.
Concerns have been voiced by various government officials and labor organizations regarding DOGE’s integration with the federal payment system, highlighting potential security threats or operational failures that could jeopardize crucial services like Social Security and Medicare.
In a related development, a federal judge ruled on Thursday that two associates of Musk would only have “read-only” access to payment systems managed by the Treasury Department, while denying access to Musk himself for the time being. This decision stemmed from litigation initiated by workers’ unions aimed at halting DOGE’s perceived invasion of privacy.
It remains uncertain when the Democratic attorneys general will formally submit their lawsuit. In the statement, James was joined by her counterparts from states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Musk, known as the world’s richest person, was appointed by President Donald Trump with the objective of reducing the size of the U.S. government. However, his actions have drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who point to his controversial access to taxpayer information and the closure of notable humanitarian agencies.
DOGE acquired sensitive payment data from the Treasury Department following the resignation of Deputy Secretary David Lebryk under intense pressure. The attorneys general critiqued this level of access as “unlawful, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” claiming that DOGE lacks the jurisdiction to obtain this information and aims to disrupt essential payments vital for healthcare, childcare, and other important initiatives.
Moreover, some Democratic Congress members have expressed apprehensions regarding Musk’s significant, unelected influence within the U.S. government. This concern was exacerbated by Musk’s statements on his social media platform, X, which suggested that DOGE was planning to halt funding to specific organizations.
Musk has, in response to the backlash against DOGE, made light of the criticisms on X while maintaining that his operations are saving taxpayers substantial amounts of money.
Officials from DOGE contended they needed access to the Treasury payment system to prevent funds from being distributed to the U.S. Agency for International Development. This claim contradicts previous assurances from the department regarding their intentions to review payment integrity while having only “read-only access” as part of an auditing procedure.
Two individuals familiar with the proceedings shared this information under conditions of anonymity fearing possible repercussions.
