In a recent development, the Federal Court in the USA has suspended access for DOGE Ilona Mask to payment systems of the Ministry of Finance, citing serious violations in the admission process. The decision was made by district judge Janet Vargas, who pointed out the “randomness” of the department’s actions, which could potentially lead to a leakage of confidential financial data.
The court found that the process of granting access to systems handling trillions of dollars in state payments was rushed and lacked proper security measures. Vargas stated that the Ministry of Finance acted “arbitrarily and capricious,” disregarding established procedures. The judge highlighted that department employees were under pressure and did not have sufficient time to implement adequate control measures.
The order, issued on Friday, February 21, prohibits any individuals associated with DOGE from using payment systems until further notice. This softens a previous harsher restriction that initially applied to all political appointees.
The decision to grant DOGE access to payment systems has faced strong criticism from Democrats, who view it as an attempt to interfere in the distribution of social benefits, tax refunds, and other state payments. However, Finance Minister Scott Immord defends the initiative, claiming it is intended to enhance the department’s accuracy and efficiency.
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Finance voluntarily agreed to limit DOGE’s access to tax data, preventing the viewing of taxpayer information. Despite this, Judge Vargas expressed doubts about the legality and rationale behind the ministry’s actions, particularly emphasizing the decision to provide DOGE employee Marco Eleza with full access rights instead of a restricted “read-only” mode, indicating a flawed process.
Nevertheless, the court has left room for the review of restrictions. By March 24, the Ministry of Finance is required to submit a report detailing how DOGE employees are being trained, how data is being safeguarded, and how the hierarchy between the White House and the Ministry of Finance is established as part of this project.