A federal judge in New York temporarily restricted Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing the Treasury Department’s payment system, citing concerns over the potential exposure of sensitive financial data. Judge Paul Engelmayer’s order blocks political and special government appointees without security clearances from using the system until at least next Friday. The decision follows a lawsuit by nineteen Democratic attorneys general, who argued that DOGE’s access risks interference with Congressional appropriations. The Treasury Department maintains that DOGE officials only have “read-only” access, but critics say the extent of their authority remains unclear. A hearing is set for Friday.
