Additional Coverage:
Government worker unions filed a lawsuit against the Treasury Department on Monday. The suit aims to block the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, from accessing Treasury data.
The unions accuse the Treasury Department and Secretary Scott Bessent of illegally granting DOGE access to sensitive data managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service. This bureau handles federal payments and collections.
Reports indicate Bessent granted DOGE access to the federal payment system last week. This reportedly gives DOGE the ability to track and potentially restrict government spending.
The lawsuit demands an immediate halt to what it calls the Treasury’s ongoing violation of privacy laws protecting personal information in federal records. The plaintiffs include the Alliance for Retired Americans, the American Federation of Government Employees, and the Service Employees International Union. These unions represent over two million government, healthcare, and public service workers.
The Treasury Department has not yet commented on the lawsuit.
Treasury payment systems are typically tightly controlled due to the sensitive personal data they contain. This data includes information on individuals receiving tax refunds, Social Security payments, and other federal benefits.
This lawsuit follows other controversies involving DOGE. Recently, DOGE officials reportedly attempted to access classified information at the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID), even lacking the necessary security clearance. Two USAID security officers were reportedly put on leave after initially trying to block DOGE officials.