A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) from accessing the personal financial records of millions of Americans stored in Treasury Department databases.
US District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer’s ruling on Saturday prohibits access to these sensitive records and orders Musk and his team to immediately destroy any existing copies. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by 19 state attorneys general who argued that the unprecedented access violated federal law.
The attorneys general sued President Donald Trump, the Treasury Department, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, claiming that granting Musk, a “special government employee,” and Doge, which is not an official government agency, access to the records posed a significant legal and security risk.
In his order, Judge Engelmayer highlighted the danger of disclosing confidential information and the increased risk of hacking. “The states would face irreparable harm without immediate relief,” he wrote, stressing that the policy could expose millions of Americans’ sensitive financial data.
The injunction bars Treasury officials from granting access to the records to special government employees, political appointees, or other non-civil service personnel. Access will now be restricted solely to Bureau of Fiscal Services civil servants who require it for their work and have undergone background checks.
Engelmayer also directed anyone who already has copies of the financial data to destroy them immediately. The restrictions will remain in effect until the next court hearing, scheduled for February 14.
Neither the White House, President Trump, nor Elon Musk have responded to the court’s decision. Musk, known for his bold initiatives and controversial cost-cutting measures, has been a key figure in Trump’s second-term reforms. Doge has led sweeping budget reductions across several government agencies, including the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The court’s ruling marks a significant legal victory for privacy advocates and raises questions about the extent of Doge’s authority in accessing and managing federal data. The case is expected to set a precedent for how government records are handled in future administrative cost-cutting efforts.
