Additional Coverage:
- Federal employee unions are suing the Treasury and alleging Elon Musk’s DOGE gained illegal and ‘unprecedented’ access to data (newsbreak.com)
Federal employee unions are suing the Treasury Department, alleging Secretary Scott Bessent improperly shared sensitive data with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The lawsuit, filed Monday, claims Bessent violated federal law by granting DOGE access to information protected from unauthorized disclosure.
The unions allege Musk and DOGE had previously been denied access to records held by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, a Treasury department overseeing federal finances. After Bessent took over, the lawsuit claims he put the employee who denied DOGE access on leave and granted Musk’s team “full access” to the Bureau’s data and computers. The unions say this action represents a “massive and unprecedented” privacy intrusion.
President Trump defended the data sharing, stating Musk was granted access to identify wasteful spending. He emphasized that Musk requires presidential approval for any actions.
The White House confirmed Musk’s status as a “special government employee,” a position that limits his service to 130 days per year and comes without pay. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Musk has complied with all applicable laws.
Trump appointed Musk and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead DOGE after his election victory, aiming to reduce federal spending and regulations. Ramaswamy stepped down last month, leaving Musk in sole leadership. Initial estimates of potential savings from DOGE were as high as $2 trillion, but Musk later revised this figure, suggesting $1 trillion as a more realistic target.