A coalition of attorneys general from 14 U.S. states has announced plans to file a lawsuit against Elon Musk and members of the DOGE team, alleging unauthorized access to government payment systems containing the personal data of millions of individuals.
According to the prosecutors, Musk and his associates gained or attempted to gain access to databases managed by the Departments of Treasury, Education, and Labor, as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Particular scrutiny has been placed on DOGE’s activities within the U.S. Treasury Department, where prosecutors allege that Musk’s team has illegally leveraged payment systems containing state banking details, citizens’ personal data, and other confidential information.
In a joint statement, the attorneys general underscored that President Donald Trump does not have the authority to transfer such sensitive data nor unilaterally suspend federally approved payments authorized by Congress. They labeled DOGE’s actions as unprecedented and unlawful.
The prosecutors cited state laws governing the handling of personal data, asserting that within their jurisdictions, DOGE’s activities could be classified as a data breach. Furthermore, they welcomed the U.S. Treasury Department’s recent decision to temporarily restrict DOGE’s access to its systems, a move prompted by a prior lawsuit filed by labor unions.
As part of their complaint, labor unions claimed that government payment systems store extensive personal and financial details, including bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, credit card information, home addresses, phone numbers, income records, and property data for millions of Americans. Additionally, these systems contain employer contact details, driver’s license numbers, and in some cases, even user passwords.
The attorneys general emphasized their commitment to securing a complete ban on DOGE’s access to these systems. The coalition includes attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, and California. Notably, Trump secured victories in Arizona and Nevada in the 2024 election, lending particular weight to the stance taken by officials from these states.
Press representatives for several attorneys general declined to provide additional comments on the lawsuit but indicated that further legal actions against Musk and his team are under consideration.
