Trump administration agrees to restrict DOGE access to Treasury Department payment systems
SUMMARY
The Trump administration has agreed to temporarily restrict access by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to the Treasury Department's payment systems following a lawsuit alleging unlawful access to sensitive data. The lawsuit, filed by union members and retirees, claims that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent improperly granted DOGE access to the secure system, potentially violating federal privacy laws. In response, the Justice Department proposed an order to limit DOGE's access, except for two special government employees, Tom Krause and Marko Elez, who retain read-only access. This agreement awaits judicial approval. The suit argues that prolonged access by unauthorized parties increases the risk of data leakage. Critics, particularly Democrats, have accused Musk of amassing too much power without adequate oversight. Musk, defending his role, describes DOGE as necessary for reducing government waste.
