Multiple taxpayer and union groups have filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), alleging unlawful access to sensitive government information systems and violations of laws protecting executive power, civil servants, and citizen data. The lawsuit contends that DOGE's actions at various federal agencies, including the Treasury, Labor, Education, Health, CFPB, OPM, and IRS, lack proper legal authorization and violate the Tax Reform Act, Privacy Act, and Administrative Procedures Act.
The plaintiffs express concerns about DOGE's access to sensitive data such as social security numbers, financial information, and confidential business records, including tax information and IRS investigations, potentially involving Musk's own businesses or competitors. They argue that such access is unprecedented for a business owner and raises serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
The groups are seeking a temporary restraining order to halt DOGE's activities pending a court review, after which they request a declaration of unlawful access, a stop to DOGE's use of IRS systems, deletion of illegally obtained information, and the implementation of new security measures.
This lawsuit comes before a federal judge's recent decision not to block DOGE's access to data or its ability to fire federal employees. While Judge Tanya Chutkan denied the temporary restraining order, citing a lack of evidence demonstrating irreparable harm, she expressed concerns about the unchecked authority of an unelected individual like Musk and questioned DOGE's accountability to Congress.
This legal challenge follows another lawsuit filed by over a dozen Democratic state attorneys general seeking to limit DOGE's access to federal employee data, raising concerns about the concentration of power in the hands of an unelected individual. These legal battles highlight the growing controversy surrounding DOGE's operations and its potential impact on government transparency and accountability.
