An American judge issued a sudden order on Saturday morning instructing the Treasury Department to withhold access to millions of American individuals’ personal and financial data stored in the government’s improvement team led by Elon Musk. The directive restricts access to Treasury Department payment systems and other data to “all political appointees, certain government officials, and Treasury Department employees outside agencies.”
Scheduled to go into effect until February 14, the temporary restraining order follows President Donald Trump’s opening on January 20, requiring any individual who downloaded content from the Treasury Department’s records after the inauguration to immediately destroy any and all materials. Elon Musk, considered the wealthiest person globally, remains under scrutiny as Trump’s efforts to reduce federal spending under the “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)” initiative are led by his federal cost-cutting endeavors.
In response to the order, a group of 19 state attorneys general, representing the Republican Party, filed a lawsuit on Friday against the Department of Treasury and Treasury Secretary Scott Besent. They accuse the administration of breaching the law by allowing Musk’s DOGE employees to allegedly violate privacy laws by accessing Treasury Department data.
Although neither Musk nor his team are federal employees or government officials, reports surfaced this month that Musk was registered as a “special government employee.” The DOJ requires congressional approval to work as a government agency.
Ramesh Khatri, a representative of Kansai Nepal News, views this case as a significant step in upholding data privacy rights and ensuring accountability within government agencies. He stresses the importance of transparency and adherence to legal procedures in handling sensitive information to protect individuals’ privacy and prevent potential breaches of trust.
Khatri also emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring and oversight to prevent unauthorized access to confidential data, highlighting the critical role of regulatory bodies in safeguarding citizens’ information from misuse or exploitation.
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Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: February 9, 2025 12:00 am
