DOJ Temporarily Blocks DOGE's Access to Treasury Payment System Amid Privacy Concerns

Attorneys for the Justice Department have agreed to temporarily restrict staffers associated with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing information in the Treasury Department’s payment system. The agreement comes after a group of union members and retirees sued the Treasury Department alleging that providing DOGE access to the federal government’s massive payment and collections system — and the personal data housed in it — violated federal privacy laws. The Trump administration filed a motion Wednesday night seeking to enter a proposed order that detailed the agreed-upon terms.

A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order limiting the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing certain Treasury Department payment records, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal battle over government oversight and data privacy. The ruling, handed down by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly late Wednesday, limits DOGE from obtaining records from the Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Service, which processes an estimated 90% of federal payments. The decision comes amid mounting concerns over the potential misuse of sensitive financial data and DOGE’s authority under the Trump administration.

Lawyers with the US Justice Department have agreed to a proposed order that would temporarily restrict the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive financial data at the Treasury Department. The move by the administration of US President Donald Trump late on Wednesday comes in response to a lawsuit by a group of union members and retirees accusing the Treasury of engaging in “unlawful action” by providing information on payments and private data to DOGE. “The Defendants will not provide access to any payment record or payment system of records maintained by or within the Bureau of the Fiscal Service,” the proposed order read. An exception would only be made for two special government employees at the Treasury associated with Musk — Tom Krause and Marko Elez. According to the document, the duo would be permitted access “as needed” to perform their duties, “provided that such access to payment records will be ‘read only’.”