PHOENIX – A coalition of Democratic attorneys general, including Arizona’s Kris Mayes, announced Thursday they plan to file a lawsuit to block Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing federal payment systems that contain sensitive personal information of Americans.
In a joint statement, the attorneys general expressed deep concerns over the federal government granting DOGE access to Treasury Department payment data, calling it a threat to privacy and the constitutional separation of powers.
“As the richest man in the world, Elon Musk is not used to being told ‘no,’ but in our country, no one is above the law,” the statement read. “The President does not have the power to give away our private information to anyone he chooses, and he cannot cut federal payments approved by Congress.”
Musk, appointed by President Donald Trump to lead the newly created department aimed at reducing government inefficiencies, has drawn criticism for his rapid and controversial moves—including what critics call a hostile takeover of taxpayer data. DOGE has also been linked to the apparent closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the government’s leading international humanitarian aid provider.
Federal workers unions and government officials have raised alarms over the risks of DOGE accessing federal payment infrastructure, warning that it could compromise security or delay essential programs like Social Security and Medicare.
The issue escalated after Treasury’s acting Deputy Secretary David Lebryk resigned under pressure, reportedly after refusing DOGE’s request for sensitive payment system access. The Washington Post reported that his departure followed direct intervention from Musk’s team.
On Thursday, a federal judge issued a temporary ruling that grants two Musk allies “read-only” access to Treasury payment systems but blocks DOGE from gaining full control. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by federal workers unions attempting to stop what they describe as an unprecedented invasion of privacy.
It remains unclear when the Democratic attorneys general will file their lawsuit, but the coalition includes officials from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
