Judge Extends Block on Musk's Cost-Cutting Team DOGE on Treasury Access

A U.S. judge extended a block on Elon Musk's DOGE team from accessing Treasury systems handling billions in government payments. The decision came after 19 state attorneys general cited security risks. The judge noted the Treasury's flawed rollout and emphasized possible legal authority issues with DOGE's system access.

A U.S. judge has extended a block preventing Elon Musk's government cost-cutting team, known as DOGE, from accessing systems within the Treasury Department that manage trillions in government payments. This move follows a request by 19 Democratic state attorneys general, who are contesting DOGE's legal authority to access these systems.

Concerns were raised regarding the potential risk of sensitive information being disclosed improperly. U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas, presiding in Manhattan, suggested the states had a strong argument and criticized the Treasury Department for not adequately addressing risks associated with granting DOGE access to banking information.

Previously, a temporary restraining order was issued by Judge Paul Engelmayer, which has now been temporarily extended by Judge Vargas pending a preliminary injunction decision. The debate over DOGE's access to federal systems has prompted multiple legal challenges involving various departments, with mixed ruling outcomes reported across courts.