A federal judge has officially restricted Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.) from accessing the U.S. Treasury...
A federal judge has officially restricted Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.) from accessing the U.S. Treasury’s payment system.
### **Judicial Ruling and Background**
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued the ruling after Musk asserted that his team was working to eliminate what he described as wasteful government expenditures. The U.S. Treasury, which processes trillions of dollars in transactions—including Social Security and Medicare payments—became a focal point of Musk’s claims that these payments were negatively impacting the federal budget.
### **Privacy Concerns and Legal Action**
In response, federal employees and retirees filed a lawsuit against D.O.G.E., arguing that its access to Treasury data posed a serious threat to privacy. They contended that allowing Musk’s team to view sensitive financial records would violate federal laws. The court concurred, swiftly issuing an order to revoke D.O.G.E.'s access to Treasury records.
### **Who Had Access?**
The government confirmed that only two individuals within Musk’s circle had access to Treasury data:
- **Tom Krause** – CEO of Cloud Software Group
- **Marko Elez** – A 25-year-old software developer
### **Musk Prohibited from Treasury Data**
Elon Musk himself has been explicitly barred from accessing Treasury information. Tensions escalated when Musk suggested that D.O.G.E. was preventing “illegal” payments. His remarks reportedly prompted significant concern within the Treasury Department, leading to intervention from former President Donald Trump, who stated:
*"Elon can’t do anything without our approval."*
### **Additional Legal Challenges**
Beyond the Treasury dispute, labor unions have filed a separate lawsuit aiming to block D.O.G.E. from accessing Department of Labor systems. Critics argue that Musk’s team is acting too hastily without obtaining proper legal authorization.
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