Trump Administration Agrees to Restrict DOGE Access to Treasury Department Payment Systems
The Trump administration has agreed to temporarily restrict staffers associated with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive information within the Treasury Department’s payment system. This agreement follows a lawsuit filed by union members and retirees, claiming that allowing DOGE access to federal payment systems violated federal privacy laws.
The Justice Department attorneys reached this agreement after allegations that giving DOGE access to the massive payment and collections system, which houses personal data, was unlawful. In a proposed order filed on Wednesday, the Trump administration requested a temporary restriction, specifically barring DOGE from accessing any payment records maintained by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.
The order does allow for exceptions, notably for two special government employees — Tom Krause and Marko Elez — who can access the records “as needed,” though their access will be limited to “read only” and will not extend to sharing data externally. The restricted access will remain in effect until a subsequent hearing on the lawsuit, pending approval by the judge.
The lawsuit against the Treasury contends that newly appointed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent improperly granted DOGE access to the system. Critics argue that such access allows individuals not involved in the processing of government transactions to delve into sensitive financial records. They claim this could lead to unauthorized disclosure of private data, potentially resulting in significant harm.
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At a hearing Wednesday, a Justice Department lawyer denied that personal information had been shared with third parties outside of the Treasury. However, the lawsuit also sought to block any further disclosure of information to DOGE, requesting the retrieval and safeguarding of any already acquired data.
The issue of Musk’s involvement has sparked controversy, particularly among Democrats, who view him as an unelected figure exerting undue influence over government operations. Musk, who leads DOGE, has framed the initiative as a necessary effort to reduce wasteful government spending, dubbing DOGE “the wood chipper for bureaucracy.”
While Musk is serving in the Trump administration as a “special government employee,” his tenure is limited to a few months, as his position is temporary. Earlier this year, President Trump renamed the U.S. Digital Service, which Musk now heads as the Department of Government Efficiency. This department has been making waves, with Musk pushing to eliminate the U.S. Agency for International Development and shifting focus to streamline various branches of the federal government.
As part of his ongoing role, Musk is also reportedly working on modernizing the nation’s infrastructure, including upgrading the aviation system under the Department of Transportation.
