Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with 13 other state attorneys general, has expressed concern over the U.S. Department of the Treasury's decision to grant Elon Musk and his "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) access to sensitive payment systems containing Americans' personally identifiable information.

In a statement released by the coalition, they said: “In the past week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has given Elon Musk access to Americans’ personal private information, state bank account data, and other information that is some of our country’s most sensitive data."

The coalition emphasized that despite Musk's status as "the richest man in the world," he is not exempt from legal boundaries. They stated: "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."

They further criticized DOGE's access as "unlawful, unprecedented, and unacceptable," arguing that DOGE lacks authority over such sensitive data. The group claimed this access was sought with intentions to obstruct essential payments supporting healthcare, childcare, and other vital programs.

To address these concerns, Bonta and his colleagues plan legal action. They declared their intent "in defense of our Constitution, our right to privacy, and the essential funding that individuals and communities nationwide are counting on."

The attorneys general joining Bonta in this statement include representatives from New York, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Vermont.