Elon Musk’s Blockade of Access to Treasury Records
A federal judge in the US has issued a preliminary injunction blocking Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) from accessing Treasury Department records containing personally identifiable or confidential information. The move follows claims that Doge and other non-official government departments were granted access to sensitive data without proper authority, raising concerns about privacy violations.
The injunction, issued by US District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer on Saturday, prohibits immediate access to Treasury records for Musk’s team and mandates the destruction of any copies retained. The decision comes after 19 state attorneys general sued the Trump administration following Doge’s unauthorized access to records.
Engelmayer’s ruling stated that the plaintiffs “face irreparable harm” without relief, emphasizing the risk of exposing sensitive information and increasing vulnerability to hacking. The order restricts access to Treasury Department records for special government employees, political appointees, and other non-department personnel. Additionally, any copies must be destroyed immediately.
The injunction also limits access to records containing personally identifiable or confidential information by civil servants who need such information for their work at the Bureau of Fiscal Services and have passed background checks. The court order remains in effect until the next court hearing on February 14, 2024.
External Link: BBC News Article
Internal Link: Kenkou-land Blog
