President Trump’s DOGE unit scores a legal victory regarding Treasury Department data access, but remains barred from systems due to a conflicting court order.
Key Insights
- A federal judge in Washington D.C. ruled DOGE would not cause “irreparable harm” by accessing Treasury Department systems
- Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly dismissed a lawsuit from the Alliance for Retired Americans and employee unions
- DOGE remains unable to access Treasury systems due to a separate ruling by a New York federal judge
- The efficiency department claims to have saved $105 billion through various government reforms
Court Rules No Immediate Risk from DOGE Access
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has secured a significant legal win in its ongoing effort to access Treasury Department data systems. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled against advocacy groups and unions seeking to block DOGE from accessing Treasury information, finding no evidence of imminent harm. The decision marks a victory for the Trump administration’s efficiency initiative, which has faced numerous legal challenges since its inception.
The lawsuit, filed by the Alliance for Retired Americans and employee unions, expressed concerns that private information could be improperly disclosed or shared with third parties. While acknowledging these concerns as “understandable and no doubt widely shared,” Judge Kollar-Kotelly determined the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate that DOGE personnel would misuse the data. The ruling effectively lifts previous access restrictions imposed by the court.
🇺🇸COURT UNLEASHES DOGE: ELON GETS ACCESS TO FEDERAL TREASURY DATA
Elon just scored another massive win—a federal judge has ruled that his Department of Government Efficiency @DOGE can access U.S. Treasury data, including federal salaries, Social Security info, and tax refunds.… https://t.co/zXrxYtF2vT pic.twitter.com/GZvR9GoX8i
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 9, 2025
Competing Court Orders Leave DOGE in Limbo
Despite the favorable ruling in Washington D.C., DOGE staff remain unable to access Treasury systems due to a separate order from U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in New York. This conflicting decision stems from a lawsuit brought by 19 Democratic attorneys general raising security concerns. Judge Vargas specifically pointed to insufficient vetting and training of DOGE personnel as justification for maintaining restrictions on system access.
“Indeed, taking the time to adequately mitigate potential security concerns and properly onboard members to engage in this work outweighs the defendants’ immediate need to access and redevelop [the] Treasury system,” wrote U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas.
The judge did, however, leave open the possibility of lifting these restrictions if DOGE staff obtain proper security clearances and training. Previously, DOGE’s work at the Treasury was limited to two employees with read-only access, one of whom subsequently resigned following controversy over social media posts. These legal battles underscore the complex challenges facing DOGE as it attempts to fulfill its mission.
Door Open for Future Legal Action
While ruling against the plaintiffs, Judge Kollar-Kotelly made clear that the court would reconsider the matter if evidence emerges of plans to misuse private information. Her decision emphasized that simply asserting increased risk without concrete evidence was insufficient grounds for a preliminary injunction, but she acknowledged that plaintiffs could return to court if circumstances change.
“If Plaintiffs could show that Defendants imminently planned to make their private information public or to share that information with individuals outside the federal government with no obligation to maintain its confidentiality, the Court would not hesitate to find a likelihood of irreparable harm,” stated Judge Kollar-Kotelly in her ruling.
DOGE, created by President Trump to eliminate wasteful spending and streamline government operations, claims to have identified $105 billion in potential savings through various reforms. However, the department has faced multiple legal challenges across federal agencies, including the Department of Education, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Labor. The ongoing litigation reflects the tension between the administration’s efficiency goals and concerns about data security and proper oversight.
Sources:
- Federal Judge Won’t Restrict DOGE Access to Treasury Data – Democracy Docket
- A judge in the nation’s capital declines to block DOGE from Treasury systems | AP News
- Federal Judge Denies Request to Block DOGE From Accessing Treasury Data | The Epoch Times
