Nineteen Democratic attorneys general sued President Donald Trump because he granted Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) rights to Treasury Department records containing millions of American citizens’ personal data that includes Social Security information and bank account numbers. On February 7, 2025 lawyers submitted the lawsuit alleging Trump’s administration improperly allowed DOGE to gain entry to the Treasury’s central payment system that manages trillions of yearly federal payments.
Under the leadership of New York Attorney General Letitia James the legal documents contend DOGE’s access violates both federal legislation and the established principle of separate powers established in the U.S. Constitution. The lawyer James predicted that the step could begin unauthorized freezes of vital federal funds which would threaten program payments for healthcare services and child care and other crucial programs. The lawsuit gives Secretary Scott Bessent responsibility for changing data protection guidelines specifically for DOGE protocol review.
DOGE has come under intense criticism since its inception to target government financial waste because of Musk’s increased control over the cryptocurrency. Cost-saving proponents support the project while privacy advocates and power control alarmed parties express worries. The Treasury Department states that the review process exists for system integrity evaluation while multiple groups express worry about U.S. Agency for International Development payment suspensions. 
The controversy involving DOGE has gained the interest of both Republican and Democratic politicians and advocacy organizations who filed challenges against the agency’s conduct. A Washington judge gave DOGE two employees limited viewing rights to its system alongside other restrictions in place. A final court ruling from this lawsuit has the potential to create longstanding legal standards regarding federal privacy of data and executive branch power.
