14 States Set to Sue Over DOGE’s Access to Government Payment Systems

February 6, 2025 TruthUSA

A group of 14 state attorneys general has declared the level of access granted to DOGE as ‘unlawful’ and ‘unacceptable.’

This coalition announced on Thursday their intention to file a lawsuit aimed at preventing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive federal payment systems.

They contended that DOGE, an advisory group led by tech mogul Elon Musk, lacks the authority to access federal systems, which they noted contain personal information about Americans, state bank account details, and “some of our country’s most sensitive data.”

“This level of access for unauthorized individuals is unlawful, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” the coalition emphasized in a statement by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin.

“DOGE has no right to access this information, which they explicitly sought in order to obstruct critical payments that millions of Americans depend on—payments that facilitate health care, childcare, and other essential services.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent granted DOGE access to the Treasury’s payment system after Trump’s inauguration on January 20. DOGE is responsible for evaluating agencies for possible downsizing and termination, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), to curtail federal spending and enhance government efficiency.

The attorneys general also claimed that President Donald Trump “does not possess the authority” to grant DOGE access to Americans’ private data or to withhold federal payments that have been approved by Congress.

The coalition intends to take legal action to uphold “our Constitution, our right to privacy, and the vital funding that individuals and communities across the nation rely on.”

This coalition includes Platkin along with attorneys general from New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

On February 5, a group of labor unions filed a lawsuit aiming to stop DOGE’s access to federal payment systems, claiming it infringes “constitutional limitations on executive power” and “laws designed to protect civil servants from arbitrary threats and retaliation.”

The plaintiffs—including the AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union, and the Economic Policy Institute—are seeking a temporary restraining order or administrative stay against DOGE.

Justice Department lawyers proposed an order on February 5 stating the federal government will temporarily limit DOGE’s access to information within the Treasury Department’s payment system and permit special government employees “read-only” access to payment records.

“The Defendants will not allow access to any payment record or payment system of records maintained by or within the Bureau of the Fiscal Service,” it specified.

This proposed order came after an incident on February 4, where Democratic members of Congress attempted to enter the Treasury building, stating they aimed to provide oversight following DOGE’s access to the federal payment system. Democratic lawmakers have been calling for the revocation of this access.

Trump previously asserted that Musk would require approval from the White House to take any action and guaranteed that the government would intervene in instances of conflict of interest.

“In cases where we perceive a conflict or issue, we will restrict him from involvement, but he possesses some very promising ideas,” the president told reporters in the Oval Office last month.

Zachary Stieber and Stacy Robinson contributed to this report.

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