Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced an initial success in her legal efforts against Elon Musk and the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE). A federal judge in the Southern District of New York granted a temporary restraining order, effectively preventing Musk and his team from accessing sensitive personal information belonging to Arizonans. The decision came shortly after Mayes, alongside a coalition of 19 attorneys general, filed a lawsuit aimed at stopping this access.
"Early this morning we won a court order that blocks Elon Musk, the unelected billionaire attempting an administrative coupe of the federal government, from accessing Arizonans' private personal like your Social Security numbers and Veteran benefit information at the Treasury Department," stated Attorney General Mayes. She emphasized this as another victory against actions by the Trump administration.
The lawsuit arose following a policy change by the U.S. Department of the Treasury that allowed "special government employees," including Musk and DOGE staffers, access to its central payment system. This system holds crucial personal data used for Social Security payments, veterans’ benefits, Medicare and Medicaid payments, among others. It also manages billions in funds vital for state services such as law enforcement and public education.
Yesterday's legal action by Mayes was part of broader efforts with other attorneys general to prevent unauthorized sharing of Americans' private data. A federal judge agreed that the states had strong statutory claims likely to succeed and would face irreparable harm without immediate intervention.
Elon Musk and his team are now required to destroy any records they have obtained unlawfully. The court will consider arguments for a preliminary injunction on February 14, 2025.
Attorneys general from New York, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin joined Attorney General Mayes in this legal effort.