The Trump administration is now facing a lawsuit over Elon Musk’s alleged “massive and unprecedented” intrusion into the U.S. government’s payment systems.
The legal action, filed by the advocacy group Public Citizen on Monday evening in a Washington, D.C. federal court, seeks to halt the “unlawful, ongoing, systematic, and continuous disclosure of personal and financial information” to Musk and others linked to his so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE).
The lawsuit, brought against the Treasury Department, was filed by organizations like the Alliance for Retired Americans, the American Federation of Government Employees, and the Service Employees International Union. This comes shortly after reports revealed that Musk and DOGE had gained access to sensitive federal payment systems, including millions of Americans’ Social Security numbers. The plaintiffs claim that the Treasury Department, under the leadership of Secretary Scott Bessent, violated the Privacy Act of 1974 and IRS regulations concerning taxpayer data by granting Musk and DOGE such access.
The complaint argues, “Americans who share their information with the federal government should not be forced to share it with Elon Musk or his ‘DOGE.’ And under federal law, they shouldn’t have to.”
The controversy has sparked lawmakers’ calls for investigations. Over the weekend, Senators Ron Wyden (D-WA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent letters to Secretary Bessent demanding clarification on whether Musk was given “full access” to the government’s payment systems.
Wyden, who serves as the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, expressed concern, writing, “To put it bluntly, these payment systems simply cannot fail, and any politically motivated interference risks severe damage to our country and its economy.” He also raised alarms about Musk’s history of disregarding laws and questioned why individuals with such behavior would need access to sensitive, mission-critical government systems.
Wyden’s letter included several questions for Bessent, such as whether Musk or DOGE officials had requested or been granted access to the Treasury Department’s payment systems and what security measures were in place to prevent breaches. Warren, in a separate letter, raised similar concerns about the safeguards in place to protect Americans’ data, including Social Security numbers. Both lawmakers have set deadlines for responses: Wyden by February 12th and Warren by February 7th. Neither letter outlines the consequences if Bessent fails to respond.
Bradley Moss, a national security lawyer, suggested that the administration could face further legal challenges. For instance, organizations affected by the freeze in USAID payments could sue, as could federal workers impacted by DOGE’s actions. Congress could also challenge the department’s attempt to redirect funds intended for specific programs, Moss added.
“President Trump is clearly in a ‘push the limits and see what happens’ phase,” Moss remarked. “He’s testing how far he can go before legal challenges can stop him. It remains uncertain whether the courts will intervene, especially since Republicans in Congress have largely shown little interest in restraining his actions.”
