Although temporary, California AG Rob Bonta celebrates a huge legal victory against Elon Musk’s DOGE
Sacramento, California – California Attorney General Rob Bonta has successfully secured a preliminary injunction to block the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, from accessing private data of millions of Americans. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York made this ruling, which marks a significant step towards safeguarding personal data of individuals.
The injunction comes in response to a lawsuit initiated by Attorney General Bonta and supported by a coalition of 19 attorneys general. The legal case seeks to stop DOGE from gaining private data kept by the U.S. Treasury Department, including social security numbers and bank account information of millions of Americans.
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Emphasizing the need of protecting Californians’ privacy against what he characterizes as an overreach by the Trump administration, Attorney General Bonta expressed his satisfaction with the court’s ruling.
“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 dispute began on February 7 when the coalition filed the lawsuit shortly after reports surfaced about DOGE gaining unprecedented access to the Treasury’s payment systems. This access may reveal very sensitive information fundamental to American people’s personal privacy and financial security.
Under management by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS), the U.S. Treasury Department processes trillions in government payments. These funds assist with important services such as Medicare, Social Security benefits, healthcare, daycare, veterans’ benefits, and more. The integrity and security of these systems are paramount to the functioning of various federal programs that millions of Americans rely on.
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The provisional injunction acts as a stopgap to prevent DOGE from gaining access while the legal process proceeds. It highlights the urgency and significance of potential damage to public security and privacy since it tracks a temporary restraining order the court imposed just hours after the lawsuit was filed.
This legal challenge claims that, including members of DOGE, the Trump administration lacks the constitutional, statutory, or regulatory power to provide such access to political appointees or special government employees.
With this preliminary injunction indicating a turning point in the continuous attempts to guarantee that governmental authority is used within the limits of the law, therefore preserving the privacy and rights of all Americans, the struggle over data privacy and government openness is still under progress. The office of Attorney General Bonta has confirmed the intention to closely monitor the matter and react as needed to protect the public against any illegal access to their personal data.
