Attorney General Neronha, along with 11 other attorneys general, has issued a statement in response to the U.S. Department of the Treasury's decision to allow Elon Musk and his "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) staff access to sensitive payment systems. These systems contain personally identifiable information of Americans.
The statement highlights concerns over this access, stating: “In the past week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has given Elon Musk access to Americans’ personal private information, state bank account data, and other information that is some of our country’s most sensitive data."
It further addresses Musk's influence and legal boundaries: “As the richest man in the world, Elon Musk is not used to being told ‘no,’ but in our country, no one is above the law. The President does not have the power to give away our private information to anyone he chooses, and he cannot cut federal payments approved by Congress.”
The attorneys general argue that this level of access for unauthorized individuals is "unlawful, unprecedented, and unacceptable." They claim DOGE sought this information specifically to obstruct critical payments essential for healthcare, childcare, and other vital programs.
The statement concludes with a commitment to legal action: “In defense of our Constitution, our right to privacy, and the essential funding that individuals and communities nationwide are counting on, we will be filing a lawsuit to stop this injustice.”
This joint statement includes Attorney General Neronha and his counterparts from New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, and Vermont.