State Attorneys General Challenge Elon Musk’s Access to Federal Payment Systems
In a significant legal move, Democratic attorneys general from various states have pledged to initiate a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Their primary concern revolves around the agency’s potential access to federal payment systems, which house sensitive personal information of American citizens.
Leading this charge is New York’s Attorney General Letitia James, who, along with her counterparts from 11 other states, emphasized their commitment to safeguarding constitutional rights and privacy. In a collective statement, they declared their intent to protect the crucial funding that many rely on across the nation.
“As the richest man in the world, Elon Musk is not used to being told ‘no,’ but in our country, no one is above the law,” the attorneys general stated. “The President does not have the power to give away our private information to anyone he chooses, and he cannot cut federal payments approved by Congress.”
Despite these assertions, the White House has not yet provided a response to requests for comments regarding the situation.
Concerns have been voiced by government representatives and labor unions alike, who fear that DOGE’s involvement could pose potential security threats or lead to disruptions in payments for crucial programs like Social Security and Medicare.
In a related development, a federal judge has ruled that only two associates of Musk will have “read only” access to the Treasury Department’s payment systems. This decision is part of a legal battle initiated by federal workers unions, who argue that DOGE’s actions could constitute a significant breach of privacy.
The exact timing for when the Democratic attorneys general will file their lawsuit remains uncertain. In addition to New York, the attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Vermont are also participating in this initiative.
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