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Multistate Coalition Sues Trump Administration Over Unauthorized Access to Treasury Payment System Data

U.S. Department of the TreasuryFebruary 7, 2025New York Attorney General

Summary

New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of 19 state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration and U.S. Department of the Treasury over unauthorized access to Americans’ sensitive personal data. The lawsuit alleges the Treasury Department illegally granted Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to its central payment system containing bank account details, Social Security numbers, and other private information, violating federal law and the U.S. Constitution. The coalition seeks an injunction to halt the policy and a declaration that the access expansion is unlawful and unconstitutional.

Remedy

The coalition seeks a court injunction to halt the Treasury Department’s policy granting DOGE and Elon Musk access to the central payment system, a declaratory judgment that the policy is unlawful and unconstitutional, and a temporary restraining order to immediately stop unauthorized access.

Injunction

Contract Impact

In-house legal teams should review all contracts granting access to sensitive personal data (including bank account details, Social Security numbers, and other citizen data) to ensure access is strictly limited to authorized personnel with valid security clearances. Contracts with government agencies or vendors handling citizen data must include explicit prohibitions on sharing system access with unauthorized third parties, including special government employees or political appointees, and require audit logs for all data access attempts. Teams should also verify that any data access expansion clauses require prior written approval from all relevant data protection authorities to avoid unauthorized disclosure violations.

Contract Search Terms

unauthorized data accessthird-party data access authorizationsensitive personal information access controlssecurity clearance requirementsdata system access loggingpersonal data sharing agreementsgovernment data access policiesSpecial Government Employee data access

Laws Cited

U.S. Constitution

Violation Types

Entity Details

Entity

U.S. Department of the Treasury

Industry

Other

Multistate Coalition

Arizona Attorney GeneralCalifornia Attorney GeneralColorado Attorney GeneralConnecticut Attorney GeneralDelaware Attorney GeneralHawaii Attorney GeneralIllinois Attorney GeneralMaine Attorney GeneralMaryland Attorney GeneralMassachusetts Attorney GeneralMinnesota Attorney GeneralNevada Attorney GeneralNew Jersey Attorney GeneralNorth Carolina Attorney GeneralOregon Attorney GeneralRhode Island Attorney GeneralVermont Attorney GeneralWisconsin Attorney General

Official Sources

Source Evidence

Entity Name
"Treasury Department’s central payment system"
Laws Cited
"in violation of the Constitution"
Violation Types
"unauthorized access to the Treasury Department’s central payment system"
Violation Types
"jeopardizes Americans’ most sensitive personal information"
Event Date
"February 7, 2025"
Jurisdiction
"New York Attorney General Letitia James"

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CT

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