Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a preliminary injunction from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which prevents the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing personal data held by the U.S. Treasury Department.

"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," said Attorney General Bonta. "Californians can breathe a sigh of relief knowing the California Department of Justice is going to the mat for them and standing up against the Trump Administration’s chilling overreach of power."

The decision follows a lawsuit filed on February 7 by Bonta and 18 other attorneys general aimed at blocking DOGE's access to sensitive information, such as bank account and social security numbers, managed by the Treasury Department. The court had previously issued a temporary restraining order barring DOGE's access to these systems, which has now been extended through this preliminary injunction.

Since President Trump's inauguration, reports have surfaced about Elon Musk and his associates gaining unprecedented access to vital payment systems managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS). These systems handle trillions in government payments crucial for healthcare, childcare, Social Security benefits, Medicare benefits, veterans benefits, federal employee salaries, and tax refunds.

The coalition of attorneys general argues that there is no constitutional or legal basis for expanding access to these critical systems for political appointees or special government employees associated with DOGE.

A copy of the court's order is available online.