TL/DR –
New York Attorney General Letitia James and 18 other state attorneys general are suing President Donald Trump’s administration to prevent the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, from accessing personal data in the Treasury Department. The data includes bank account details and Social Security numbers of state residents, access to which the attorneys general deem unlawful and unconstitutional. It follows a recent lawsuit filed by retirees and union members against expanded data access by Musk and DOGE, leading the Justice Department to temporarily restrict data access by DOGE, with a ruling on a preliminary injunction expected on February 24.
New York AG and 18 States Sue Trump Administration to Protect Privacy
New York Attorney General Letitia James, alongside 18 other attorneys general, launched a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Friday. The lawsuit aims to prevent Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from obtaining personal data from the Treasury Department.
The lawsuit points to DOGE’s access to sensitive information in the Treasury Department’s central payment system, including Social Security numbers and bank account details of US citizens.
The attorneys general argue that DOGE’s access is both unconstitutional and unlawful, putting forth a request for an injunction.
“Elon Musk, being the wealthiest person in the world, isn’t accustomed to hearing ‘no’. However, in our country, nobody is above the law,” asserted James. She also reiterated that Trump couldn’t “give away Americans’ private information to anyone he chooses.”
The lawsuit, which involves states such as California, Arizona, and Massachusetts among others, was filed in Manhattan federal court just days after a similar case was lodged by retirees and union members in Washington. These litigants argue that DOGE’s expanded access violates federal privacy laws.
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This isn’t the first time James has sued Trump. Most notably, she spearheaded a civil fraud case against him, culminating in a $486 million judgment in 2021.
DOGE’s activities under Musk’s leadership have elicited severe backlash from Democratic lawmakers. These critics protest Musk’s “improper and excessive” access to sensitive data, labelling him as an “unelected billionaire.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed his concern, stating, “We cannot allow Elon Musk to strip away our privacy, our dollars, everything we own, secretly and behind closed doors.”
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