{"id":2398752,"date":"2025-02-04T13:55:10","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T18:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/advocacy-group-and-unions-sue-treasury-department-over-doge-access-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-04T13:57:27","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T18:57:27","slug":"advocacy-group-and-unions-sue-treasury-department-over-doge-access-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/advocacy-group-and-unions-sue-treasury-department-over-doge-access-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Advocacy group and unions sue Treasury Department over DOGE access &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fadvocacy-group-and-unions-sue-treasury-department-over-doge-access-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2398752&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses a\u200c lawsuit filed by advocacy groups and unions against \u2063the U.S. Treasury Department over\u2064 allegations of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/police-report-at-least-two-dead-28-injured-in-baltimore-shooting\/\" title=\"Baltimore Shooting: 2 Dead, 28 Injured, Police Report\">illegal access<\/a> to\u200d sensitive personal and financial information by Elon Musk&#8217;s &#8220;DOGE&#8221; \u200cstaff. The\u200d plaintiffs, including \u2064the Alliance \u200cfor Retired Americans, the American \u200cFederation of Government Employees, and the Service Employees International Union, claim that the Treasury Department is unlawfully disclosing sensitive data, such as Social Security numbers and bank account \u200cinformation, to Musk\u2019s team. \u2063They argue that such\u2064 access violates\u2063 the Privacy Act of 1974 and \u200dIRS statutes.<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit details how\u2062 Treasury Secretary Scott bessent allegedly \u200cgranted \u200dDOGE access\u2062 to \u2064these records shortly\u2063 before \u2064the retirement of a key official who had warned against such actions. The plaintiffs express \u200dserious concerns about\u200b potential misuse of this data, which could expose vulnerable\u2063 populations, particularly seniors, \u2064to fraud. The White\u200c House has defended Musk&#8217;s actions,stating he is acting \u200bwithin the law. This lawsuit is not\u200b the first controversy involving DOGE and the government, as previous legal challenges have emerged as the beginning of Musk&#8217;s \u2062involvement in government ventures.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Advocacy group and unions sue Treasury Department over DOGE access<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1957950\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>An advocacy group and other unions are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/1-Complaint-7.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"suing\">suing<\/a> the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/treasury-department\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"suing\">Treasury Department<\/a> after the Department of Government Efficiency gained access to its sensitive systems.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The Alliance for Retired Americans, the American Federation of Government Employees, and the Service Employees International Union, represented by the Public Citizen Litigation Group and State Democracy Defenders Fund, filed a lawsuit against the department for the alleged &ldquo;unlawful ongoing, systematic, and continuous disclosure of personal and financial information contained in Defendants&rsquo; records to Elon Musk&rdquo; and DOGE employees.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The scale of the intrusion into individuals&rsquo; privacy is massive and unprecedented,&rdquo; the complaint read. &ldquo;People who must share information with the federal government should not be forced to share information with Elon Musk or his &lsquo;DOGE.&rsquo; And federal law says they do not have to.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>According to the complaint, Musk and DOGE are barred from accessing the data under the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue Code.<\/p>\n<p>Among the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">sensitive data allegedly accessed<\/a> by DOGE included names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, birthplaces, home addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, and bank account information. The Treasury Department processed more than $5 trillion in payments from millions of individuals in fiscal 2024.<\/p>\n<p>The complaint alleges that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent gave DOGE access to the financial records on Friday, the same day that Fiscal Assistant Secretary of the Treasury David Lebryk, who had warned against it, retired.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.org\/news\/advocacy-group-unions-sue-treasury-department-over-illegal-doge-data-access\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"statement\">statement<\/a>, Alliance for Retired Americans executive director Richard Fiesta warned that any misuse of the data could expose seniors to fraud and scams.<\/p>\n<p><em>&ldquo;<\/em>We are outraged and alarmed that the Trump Administration has allowed so-called DOGE staff to violate the law and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/he-has-the-right-to-pursue-an-artistic-career-psaki-defends-hunter-bidens-gallery-agreement\/\" title=\"\u2018He Has The Right To Pursue An Artistic Career\u2019: Psaki Defends Hunter Biden\u2019s Gallery Agreement\">access millions<\/a> of older Americans&rsquo; sensitive personal and financial data,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Seniors are already the most vulnerable Americans to fraud and scams, with FBI data showing losses of $3.4 billion in 2023 alone. We urge the court to quickly act to stop this unlawful theft of our data.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The White House has consistently defended Musk and DOGE.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Elon Musk is selflessly serving President Trump&rsquo;s Administration as a special government employee, and he has abided by all applicable federal laws,&rdquo; White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit isn&rsquo;t the first DOGE has been involved in during its short life &mdash; a lawsuit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3292913\/doge-to-be-sued-after-trump-sworn-in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"filed\">filed<\/a> on behalf of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;Public Citizen<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/statedemocracydefenders.org\/fund\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">State Democracy Defenders Fund<\/a>, and the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.afge.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Federation of Government Employees<\/a> mere moments after Trump was sworn into office alleged a violation of federal transparency rules outlined in the Federal Advisory Committee Act.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is not about cutting redundant staff; this is about billionaires gutting important programs that American citizens across the country rely on every single day without adequate transparency or accountability,&rdquo;&nbsp;Ambassador Norm Eisen, co-founder and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/world-economic-forum-suspends-invitation-to-president-trump-from-future-conferences-opens-this-years-globalist-fest-with-chinese-leader-xi-jinping\/\" title=\"World Economic Forum Suspends Invitation to President Trump from Future Conferences \u2013 Opens This Year\u2019s Globalist Fest with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping\">executive chairman<\/a> of State Democracy Defenders Fund, said in a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.org\/news\/public-citizen-sddf-and-afge-sue-trump-administration-over-doge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;statement<\/a>. &ldquo;We are a country where everyone is beholden to the rule of law. No one, no matter the size of their checkbook or the office they hold, is exempt from following our laws.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1957950\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1957950\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unions sue Treasury over DOGE&#8217;s access to sensitive data<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2398753,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/treasury-department-t1.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[6017,4585,49799,5038],"class_list":["post-2398752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-advocacy","tag-lawsuit","tag-treasury-department","tag-unions"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/treasury-department-t1.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2398752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2398752"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2398752\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2398756,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2398752\/revisions\/2398756"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2398753"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2398752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2398752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2398752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}