Attorney General Mayes has joined a coalition of 19 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 Trump administration unlawfully granted Elon Musk and the "Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)" access to the Treasury Department's central payment system, which contains Americans' personal information, including bank account details and Social Security numbers.
The expanded access could potentially allow Musk and his team to block federal funds to states and programs that provide essential services such as health care and childcare. The coalition seeks to halt this policy, arguing it illegally grants DOGE, Musk, and others access to confidential information and U.S. Treasury payment systems.
"This is a coup, plain and simple. The actions of DOGE are illegal, illegitimate, and a direct threat to democracy and the privacy rights of all Americans," stated Attorney General Mayes. "That’s why today, we sued the Trump administration and the Treasury secretary to stop the illegal actions being carried out by an unelected weirdo billionaire and his group of teenage hackers."
Starting February 2, 2025, a new policy by the Treasury Department allows "special government employees," including Elon Musk and members of DOGE, access to its central payment system managed by the Bureau of Fiscal Services (BFS). This system controls crucial funding for millions of Americans who depend on Social Security payments, veteran benefits, Medicare, Medicaid payments, among others. It also manages billions allocated for law enforcement, public education, infrastructure repairs at state levels.
Federal law restricts BFS access to specific career civil servants with necessary security clearances. Attorney General Mayes argues that expanding BFS access violates laws protecting sensitive personal information. Furthermore, it risks allowing unauthorized political appointees like Elon Musk potential control over freezing federal funds unconstitutionally.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction against continuing this expanded BFS access policy while declaring it unlawful under constitutional grounds.
Attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware Hawaii Illinois Maine Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota Nevada New Jersey New York North Carolina Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Wisconsin join Attorney General Mayes in filing this suit.