A US federal judge has temporarily limited access to the payment systems of the US Department of Finance for employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. This decision comes after a lawsuit filed by 19 states, primarily led by Democrats, who raised concerns about potential unauthorized access to confidential information and the possible violation of important state programs.
Judge Pol Engelmayer determined that the risk of exposing sensitive data and increasing vulnerability to cyber attacks warranted emergency measures. The judge also ordered the destruction of any information that the DOGE team may have already obtained. Further hearings on this matter are scheduled for February 14.
Prior to the lawsuit, the Department of Finance had granted limited “read-only” access to the payment system for two DOGE employees, Tom Krause and Marco Eleza. However, access was suspended temporarily following the court’s decision.
The activities of DOGE, which are aimed at enhancing the efficiency of public administration, have sparked concerns among Democrats and public organizations. Critics fear that Musk may be overstepping his boundaries by interfering in the operations of critical state institutions and programs.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who leads the state coalition, voiced support for the court’s ruling, underlining the principle that nobody is immune to the law.
Future legal proceedings are expected to clarify the legality of DOGE’s actions and determine the extent of its influence on federal entities.