California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a preliminary injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The court's decision blocks the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing personal and private data maintained by the U.S. Treasury Department.
Attorney General Bonta stated, "We are pleased the court granted our request to further halt the Elon Musk-led DOGE from accessing millions of Americans’ private and sensitive data." He added that Californians can feel assured as the California Department of Justice stands against what he describes as an overreach by the Trump Administration.
The legal action began on February 7 when Attorney General Bonta joined 19 other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit aimed at preventing DOGE from obtaining sensitive information from the Treasury Department. This includes bank account and social security numbers of millions of Americans. A temporary restraining order was quickly granted, stopping DOGE's access to these systems, which today's preliminary injunction maintains.
Reports indicate that since Inauguration Day, DOGE has been working within executive agencies to cut federal funding, services, and personnel. Allegations have surfaced about Elon Musk and his associates gaining unprecedented access to key payment systems managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS), part of the U.S. Treasury Department.
These systems handle trillions in government payments critical for health care, childcare, Social Security benefits, Medicare benefits, veterans benefits, salaries for federal employees, and tax refunds. The attorneys general argue that such access is without constitutional or statutory authority and poses risks to these essential operations.
A copy of the court's order is available for public viewing.