Elon Musk, Data Hoarding Attempt, New York NY, 2023

NEW YORK – The brazen attempt by Elon Musk and his so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) to hoover up Americans’ private data just hit a brick wall. New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a swift victory, securing a temporary restraining order (TRO) in federal court, halting DOGE’s access to sensitive personal and financial information. The move comes less than 24 hours after James led a coalition of 18 other attorneys general in a lawsuit targeting Musk and his operation.

The legal battle centers on a recent U.S. Department of the Treasury policy granting “special government employees” – including Musk and DOGE staff – access to the central payment system. This system isn’t just about moving money; it’s a vault containing Social Security details, veterans’ benefits info, Medicare/Medicaid records, and billions in state funding for essential services like law enforcement and schools. The states argued, and the court agreed, that this access was a massive overreach with potentially devastating consequences.

“From the moment Elon Musk and his DOGE employees gained unprecedented access to our personal private data, state bank account details, and other sensitive information, Americans across the country have been horrified,” Attorney General James stated. “Over the past week, my office has heard from more than a thousand New Yorkers who were afraid they would lose their privacy and the critical funding their communities count on because of Musk and DOGE’s interference.”

The court found that the states demonstrated a “particularly strong” likelihood of success on their claims and that irreparable harm would occur without immediate intervention. The TRO forces Musk and DOGE employees to cease all access to the data and immediately destroy any copies already obtained. This isn’t just a slap on the wrist; it’s a direct order to dismantle an operation built on unauthorized data collection.

“We knew the Trump administration’s choice to give this access to unauthorized individuals was illegal, and this morning, a federal court agreed,” James continued. “I have said it before, and I will say it again: no one is above the law. Now, Americans can trust that Musk – the world’s richest man – and his friends will not have free rein over their personal information while our lawsuit proceeds.” The coalition of attorneys general includes officials from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

The states are being represented by Special Counsel Andrew Amer, Special Counsel for Complex Litigation Colleen K. Faherty, and Special Counsel for Federal Initiatives Rabia Muqaddam. The court will hear arguments on the motion for a preliminary injunction on February 14, 2025, which, if granted, would extend the restraining order and keep Musk’s data grab permanently shut down. This case is a stark reminder that even the wealthiest individuals are subject to the rule of law when they threaten the privacy and security of everyday Americans.