Federal Court Blocks Musk's DOGE from Accessing Americans' Private Data

A federal court has issued a preliminary injunction preventing Elon Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) from accessing sensitive personal information of Americans, following a lawsuit filed by a coalition of 19 state attorneys general. The coalition, which includes Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, claims that the Trump administration illegally provided DOGE access to the Treasury Department's central payment system, risking exposure of Social Security numbers and bank account information. Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York ruled that the unauthorized access posed a significant threat to privacy and security, demanding the destruction of any records already obtained. This ruling is part of a broader response to concerns about the administration's data handling practices, and similar injunctions have been issued by other judges regarding access to sensitive information from federal agencies. Attorney General Dan Rayfield of Oregon emphasized that the court's decision protects Oregonians from potential data breaches and federal overreach. The ongoing legal battles highlight significant tensions between state officials and the Trump administration over privacy rights and data security.