Union Groups Sue US Treasury Over Data Access Concerns

According to Cointelegraph, union groups have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Treasury, alleging violations of federal laws by granting Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to sensitive financial and personal information. The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the largest union group in the United States, initiated legal action against the Treasury and Secretary Scott Bessent in a Washington, DC, federal court on February 3. The lawsuit aims to halt what the union describes as an “unlawful ongoing, systematic, and continuous disclosure of personal and financial information” to Musk and DOGE. The AFL-CIO expressed concerns over the extensive intrusion into individuals’ privacy, stating that those required to share information with the federal government should not be compelled to share it with Musk or his DOGE. This legal challenge is the latest in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative to reduce federal spending, which involved appointing Musk to lead the effort through DOGE, a name reminiscent of Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency Musk has previously mentioned. The lawsuit references a February 1 post by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden on Bluesky, indicating that sources informed his office about Bessent granting DOGE full access to the Treasury’s payments system. Wyden had earlier sought clarification from Bessent regarding DOGE’s access to the system. The payments system in question contains personal data such as names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, birthplaces, home addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, and bank account information of millions of individuals. The issue has prompted top Democrats, including Senate leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Elizabeth Warren, to hold a press conference on February 3, voicing concerns over Musk and DOGE’s access to Treasury systems. Schumer announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at preventing unlawful interference in the Treasury Department’s payments systems. He emphasized that DOGE is not a legitimate government agency and lacks the authority to make spending decisions or disregard federal law. Warren warned that the system is now vulnerable to Musk, who could potentially exploit the information for personal use. The Treasury and the U.S. DOGE Service (USDS), the parent agency of DOGE, have not yet responded to requests for comment.