US Treasury Sued Over Alleged Unauthorized Access to Sensitive Data by Elon Musk’s DOGE

The US Treasury is facing a lawsuit from major union groups who accuse it of unlawfully granting Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to millions of Americans' private financial and personal information.
On February 3, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the largest union group in the country, filed the lawsuit in federal court in Washington, DC. The suit claims that the Treasury Department, led by Secretary Scott Bessent, violated federal laws by allowing Musk’s DOGE organization to access sensitive data, including Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and banking information of countless American citizens. The unions argue that this disclosure is “unlawful, systematic, and continuous,” and should be stopped immediately.
“The scale of the intrusion into individuals’ privacy is massive and unprecedented,” said the AFL-CIO in a statement. "People who must share personal information with the federal government should not be forced to share it with Elon Musk or his ‘DOGE.’”
Allegations of Unauthorized Access
The lawsuit comes in the wake of a February 1 post on the social media platform Bluesky by US Senator Ron Wyden, who claimed that sources had informed his office that Secretary Bessent had granted Musk’s DOGE full access to the Treasury’s payment systems. These systems reportedly include highly sensitive data such as names, Social Security numbers, birthplaces, home addresses, email addresses, and bank account details of millions of individuals.
Senator Wyden, who has been vocal about the matter, sent a letter on January 31 demanding answers from Bessent regarding Musk's access to such sensitive systems.
Musk’s DOGE: A Government Efficiency Initiative or Overreach?
The controversy revolves around a government initiative to improve federal efficiency, with Musk’s organization, DOGE, reportedly being put in charge of revamping the Treasury’s operations. The group’s name, which bears a resemblance to Dogecoin (a cryptocurrency that Musk has frequently mentioned and supported), has raised concerns about the true nature of the operation. Critics argue that a private entity, particularly one with ties to Musk, should not have such sweeping access to confidential government data.
This lawsuit is also a significant challenge to former President Donald Trump’s efforts to cut federal spending, which led to Musk being tasked with overseeing these projects. Union leaders are alarmed that such a high level of private-sector involvement could put personal information at risk.
Legislative Pushback
The growing controversy has sparked responses from key Democratic figures in Congress. On February 3, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Elizabeth Warren held a press conference expressing their concerns over Musk’s access to the Treasury’s systems. Schumer announced that he would introduce legislation to prevent “unlawful meddling” in the Treasury Department’s payment systems, highlighting the fact that DOGE is not a legitimate government agency and should not be privy to such sensitive information.
Warren, who has been a vocal critic of Musk’s influence, warned that the Treasury system was now “at the mercy of Elon Musk,” giving him the potential to misuse or exploit the information for personal gain.
Treasury and DOGE Remain Silent
As of now, neither the US Treasury nor the US DOGE Service (USDS), the parent agency overseeing DOGE, has responded to media inquiries regarding the lawsuit or the allegations.
This legal action represents a growing concern over the intersection of private interests and government data management, particularly when such sensitive personal information is at stake. The case could set a significant precedent for how government data is handled and who should be allowed access to it.
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