A federal judge temporarily halted Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing U.S. Treasury payment systems Saturday, intensifying tensions over cybersecurity and federal funding oversight. The decision came hours after 19 Democratic-led states sued, arguing DOGE lacks legal authority to handle trillions in taxpayer-funded transactions.
Why States Pushed Back
The lawsuit alleges DOGE's access to Treasury infrastructure risks exposing sensitive financial data, potentially disrupting funding for healthcare, education, and climate programs. State officials warned the move could enable political misuse of financial information ahead of elections.
Musk Fires Back on X
Musk called the ruling \"absolutely insane!\" in a social media post, clarifying that DOGE's proposed changes—like requiring payment rationales and categorization codes—would be implemented by Treasury employees, not his team. Critics argue the reforms could centralize control over federal spending.
What the Order Does
Judge Paul Engelmayer's injunction bars non-Treasury officials, including DOGE appointees, from accessing payment systems until a February 14 hearing. It also mandates the destruction of any copied financial data, citing \"particularly strong\" evidence of legal overreach.
The case highlights growing debates over private-sector involvement in government operations, with tech innovators clashing with regulators on transparency and security protocols.
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U.S. judge blocks Musk's DOGE from accessing Treasury payment systems
cgtn.com
