A federal judge has blocked Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing the U.S. Treasury’s payment system, which handles over $6 trillion annually. The ruling came after 19 state attorneys general sued the Trump administration, arguing that DOGE’s involvement posed a major security risk.
DOGE, a temporary agency created by Trump to streamline government operations, had reportedly been accessing the system since his inauguration. Treasury officials claimed DOGE members had only “read-only” access, but critics feared sensitive financial data was at risk.
Judge Paul Engelmayer issued an order halting DOGE’s access and requiring any downloaded information to be destroyed. He cited concerns over unauthorized access, data breaches, and the potential for hacking. A formal hearing on the matter is scheduled for February 14.
New York Attorney General Letitia James led the lawsuit, calling the policy a “dangerous expansion of access.” Other states, including California, Illinois, and Massachusetts, joined in, arguing that only career civil servants should handle such sensitive data.
With legal battles ahead, it remains unclear whether DOGE will regain access. For now, Musk’s controversial role in federal financial oversight is on hold.
