Judge Halts Musk’s Access to Sensitive Treasury Records

A judge has issued a preliminary injunction barring Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) from accessing sensitive Treasury Department records, citing concerns over personal data security.

In a significant legal ruling, a federal court has restricted Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) from obtaining the personal financial information of millions of Americans stored within the Treasury Department. US District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer's preliminary injunction, issued on Saturday, requires Musk and his team to destroy any copies of the accessed records immediately.

This injunction follows a lawsuit filed by 19 state attorneys general against the Trump administration, claiming that the access granted to Musk's team, which consists of "special government employees", constituted a breach of federal law. The plaintiffs asserted that Doge is not an official government entity and should not have access to such sensitive information.

Despite the absence of comments from the White House, President Donald Trump, or Musk, the legal order underscored urgent concerns. Judge Engelmayer noted that the states would face "irreparable" harm if Musk and his team continued to have access to the records, citing risks of confidential data exposure and potential hacking vulnerabilities.

The injunction specifically restrains not only Musk and his team but also prohibits any special government employees, political appointees, or unauthorized employees from accessing personal identifiable information unless they are civil servants with a legitimate need and have passed background checks. The conditions remain effective until a subsequent court hearing scheduled for 14 February.

Musk's involvement in government dealings, particularly through initiatives like Doge, has sparked significant controversy throughout Trump's administration, especially with budget cuts impacting agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which handles global financial aid. With heightened scrutiny on Musk's role, the court's decision highlights the ongoing tension surrounding data privacy and governmental authority.