Basri Caneri 
The US Treasury Department has been sued for giving the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to the personal and financial data of millions of Americans.
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the nation’s largest union group, filed a lawsuit on February 3 in federal court in Washington, DC, arguing that this data sharing is illegal. This access was “systematic, persistent and unlawful,” the AFL-CIO said.
Elon Musk’s DOGE Organization and Its Ties to the Government
As part of his pledge to reduce federal spending, US President Donald Trump has tasked Musk with efforts to improve government efficiency. However, many are concerned that DOGE is not an official agency of the US government.
Senator Ron Wyden stated in a statement on February 1 that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has full access to DOGE. Wyden announced that Musk had requested a clear explanation of whether the DOGE organization had access to Treasury’s payment system.
This access allegedly includes the names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, places of birth, home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and banking information of millions of Americans.
Harsh Reaction from Democrats: “Musk Wields Dangerous Power”
Democratic leaders, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Elizabeth Warren, expressed great concern about Musk and DOGE’s access to the Treasury system at a press conference on February 3.
“We will introduce a new bill to stop illegal interference with the Treasury Department payment system, ” Schumer said. He also said, “DOGE is not a real government agency and has no authority to make spending decisions.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren, on the other hand, sharply criticized, saying, “Musk now has control of this system and can use this information for his own purposes.”
The US Treasury Department and the US DOGE Service (USDS), to which DOGE is affiliated, have yet to comment on the matter. How the case plays out will be critical to Musk’s relationship with the government.
You can also freely share your thoughts and comments about the topic in the comment section. Additionally, don’t forget to follow us on our Telegram, YouTube, and Twitter channels for the latest news and updates.