A federal judge has granted the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) limited access to Treasury Department data systems, brushing aside objections from a coalition of Democrat state attorneys general who claimed the move would threaten privacy and violate protocol. The ruling marks a key victory for President Trump’s administration and Elon Musk’s cost-cutting watchdog agency.
U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas, who initially froze DOGE’s access last month, revised her order to allow DOGE staffer Ryan Wunderly to review Treasury payment records—containing sensitive personal and financial information—as long as he completes official training and submits standard financial disclosures required of federal personnel. The decision brings DOGE closer to full operational access across key federal financial systems.
The lawsuit, brought by 19 Democrat attorneys general, accused the administration of placing unqualified “political appointees” in positions that would expose taxpayer information to misuse. They objected specifically to DOGE’s direct access to payment, benefits, and disbursement data managed by the Treasury, including Social Security numbers and banking details. The AGs claimed the agency posed a threat to privacy and bureaucratic norms.
But Judge Vargas disagreed, concluding that DOGE’s access—under the same terms required of Treasury employees—does not violate federal rules. She noted that Wunderly, like any other federal worker, must undergo Treasury cybersecurity training and adhere to confidentiality laws before accessing any classified or sensitive material.
The Department of Government Efficiency, created by executive order under President Trump and spearheaded by Elon Musk, has already uncovered hundreds of millions in waste, fraud, and improper payments across several federal agencies. DOGE’s mission is to root out inefficiency, eliminate redundant programs, and bring private-sector accountability to bloated government departments.
Supporters of DOGE celebrated the court’s decision, calling it a win for taxpayers and a blow to entrenched bureaucracy. “The fact that blue state AGs are trying to stop an anti-fraud task force from accessing payment records tells you everything you need to know,” said one official close to the investigation. “They’re not trying to protect privacy—they’re trying to protect their political allies.”
Critics, meanwhile, continue to claim that Musk’s role in federal oversight represents a dangerous centralization of power. But with multiple legal victories and growing public support, DOGE is rapidly becoming one of the most impactful arms of Trump’s second-term agenda.
The judge’s decision paves the way for further investigations into how pandemic relief funds, unemployment claims, and social programs were administered during the Biden years—especially in Democrat-controlled states where DOGE has already uncovered widespread fraud.
As the agency expands its scope, legal challenges are expected to continue. But for now, the Trump administration has made it clear: government waste is no longer a protected class, and DOGE is here to enforce that reality—whether career bureaucrats like it or not.