Attorney General Charity Clark has joined a coalition of 19 state attorneys general in a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The legal action aims to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of Americans' private information and sensitive data. The lawsuit claims that the administration illegally granted Elon Musk and the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)" access to the Treasury Department's central payment system, potentially exposing Americans' personal details such as bank account information and Social Security numbers.
The coalition argues that this expanded access could enable Musk and his team to block federal funds for essential services like health care and childcare. Attorney General Clark stated, "I am extremely concerned that President Trump has deputized billionaire Elon Musk, given him a role in an invented government department, and bypassed the Senate confirmation process and security clearance vetting process to grant him access to the Treasury’s central payment system."
The policy in question was adopted on February 2, 2025, by the Trump administration's Treasury Department. It allows "special government employees," including Musk and DOGE members, access to a central payment system managed by the Bureau of Fiscal Services (BFS). This system controls funding for millions of Americans through Social Security payments, veteran benefits, Medicare, Medicaid payments, and other critical services.
Federal law restricts BFS access to specific career civil servants with appropriate security clearances. Attorney General Clark contends that expanding this access violates federal law and jeopardizes Americans' most sensitive personal information. She asserts it could allow unauthorized political appointees like Musk to freeze federal funds unlawfully.
The coalition seeks an injunction against continuing this policy and a declaration that the Treasury Department's policy change is unlawful. Attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin have joined Attorney General Clark in filing this lawsuit.