U.S. News
Elon Musk and D.O.G.E. Banned from Accessing U.S. Treasury Systems
By Jake Beardslee · February 6, 2025
Elon Musk and His D.O.G.E. Blocked from U.S. Treasury Systems
A federal judge has issued a legal order barring Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.) from accessing the U.S. Treasury’s payment network. This decision follows Musk’s controversial claims about reducing federal spending, particularly regarding Social Security and Medicare payments. Saul Loeb-Pool via Imagn Images
Court Ruling Halts Musk’s Treasury Access
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled that Musk and his team could no longer access Treasury data after he boasted on Monday about "rapidly shutting down" certain government remittances. The Treasury’s payment system handles trillions of dollars annually, covering vital programs like Social Security and Medicare. Musk had asserted that these payments were placing an excessive burden on the federal budget.The court’s decision was driven by concerns over privacy violations. Federal employees and retirees filed a lawsuit arguing that sharing sensitive financial data with D.O.G.E. “deprives them of privacy protections guaranteed by federal law.” The judge responded with a temporary order preventing Musk’s team from further interaction with Treasury records. Sora Shimazaki / Pexels
D.O.G.E. Insiders Under Scrutiny
Government officials attempted to downplay the extent of Musk’s access, stating that only two individuals—Tom Krause, CEO of Cloud Software Group, and Marko Elez, a 25-year-old coding expert—had permission to handle Treasury data. However, this argument failed to sway Judge Kollar-Kotelly, who included Musk himself in the ban.Tensions escalated after Musk hinted that D.O.G.E. was unilaterally canceling what he deemed “illegal” federal payments. Concerns over the program's reach have sparked additional legal action from labor organizations, who fear that Musk’s team could soon target Department of Labor systems. Justin Pacheco / Wikimedia
White House and Trump Administration Respond
In response to growing concerns, former President Donald Trump addressed the issue directly, stating, “Elon can’t do—and won’t do—anything without our approval.” His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, sought to reassure the public, saying Musk would recuse himself from any conflicts of interest related to his business dealings. “If Elon encounters conflicts related to contracts his companies hold, he will excuse himself. He has followed all applicable laws,” she asserted.Despite these assurances, labor unions filed another lawsuit on Wednesday, accusing D.O.G.E. of seeking unchecked access to government systems. They argued that Musk’s initiative was an attempt to gain access to federal financial networks before the courts could intervene. The lawsuit stated, “D.O.G.E. seeks to gain access to sensitive systems before courts can stop them, dismantle agencies before Congress asserts budget control, and intimidate employees who resist.” Jason Bean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
