Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has initiated legal action against the Trump Administration, contesting its decision to broaden access to data held by the Treasury Department's Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS). The lawsuit, filed with support from 19 other attorneys general, argues that this executive move has allowed individuals linked to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) unauthorized entry into Americans' personal information, including bank accounts and social security numbers. The legal challenge aims to halt this access while the case is under review.

"President Trump's and the Treasury Department’s actions to allow DOGE access to Americans’ private information is chilling and unconstitutional — and Americans are paying attention," stated Attorney General Bonta. He emphasized the breach of trust involved in sharing sensitive data without consent, calling it a "gross and blatant power grab."

Reports have surfaced indicating that since Inauguration Day, DOGE has been penetrating executive agencies with an agenda of cutting federal funding, services, and personnel. Notably, billionaire Elon Musk and his associates at DOGE reportedly gained unprecedented access to critical U.S. Treasury payment systems last week.

These BFS-managed systems oversee trillions in government payments crucial for health care, childcare, Social Security, Medicare benefits, veterans' benefits, federal salaries, and tax refunds. Historically regulated for their significance to government operations, these systems' security is now under scrutiny following Donald Trump's election.

The complaint asserts that the Trump Administration lacks constitutional or statutory authority to expand BFS system access for political appointees or special government employees such as DOGE members. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order and a permanent injunction preventing non-Treasury political appointees from accessing BFS systems or private American data.

Attorney General Bonta's lawsuit is supported by attorneys general from New York, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.