Judge Eases Ban on DOGE Accessing Sensitive Treasury Data

A New York judge has partially lifted restrictions on Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), allowing one team member, Ryan Wunderly, to access sensitive Treasury Department information under specific conditions, the Associated Press reported on Saturday.

Newsweek reached out to Musk via email on Monday for comment.

Is DOGE a Government Agency?

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in office, officially creating DOGE to modernize “federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.”

Despite its name, it is not a government agency created by an act of Congress but a task force that targets waste and fraud in the federal government.

What To Know

Judge Jeannette A. Vargas ruled late Friday evening that Wunderly can access Treasury payment systems and records after completing required training and submitting a financial disclosure report.

The decision modifies a ban in response to a lawsuit filed in February by 19 Democratic state attorney’s generals, led by Letitia James of New York, who sued to block the Trump administration’s policy of allowing political appointees and “special government employees” who work with Musk’s DOGE to access the country’s most sensitive information, including Americans’ bank accounts and Social Security Administration (SSA) data.

Maryland federal judge Ellen Hollander imposed on March 20 a temporary restraining order to prevent DOGE from accessing sensitive systems within the SSA

Hollander left open the possibility that DOGE could regain access to SSA systems, but only after completing a required training and giving a “detailed explanation” for why they would need non-anonymized data. The case was brought by the Alliance for Retired Americans, the American Federation of Teachers and other representative groups.

However, in April, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals partially lifted this stay in a 2-1 decision, clearing the way for DOGE to obtain data from the Treasury Department, Education Department (ED), and the Office of Personnel Management.

DOGE’s efficiency efforts have already led to significant workforce reductions across federal agencies. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to eliminate its scientific research office, potentially firing more than 1,000 scientists and employees. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) plans to reduce its workforce by about 18,000 employees (20 percent), while the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced 10,000 job cuts.

The ED plans to lay off more than 1,300 employees, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is planning a reorganization that includes cutting 80,000 jobs. The Pentagon reportedly plans to cut 50,000 to 60,000 civilian positions.

At least 24,000 probationary workers had been terminated since Trump took office, according to a lawsuit filed by nearly 20 states alleging these mass firings are illegal. Two federal judges ordered 19 federal agencies to reinstate probationary workers who were fired. Additionally, about 75,000 federal workers accepted offers to quit in return for receiving pay and benefits until September 30.

How Much Spending Has DOGE Cut So Far?

During a White House Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Musk said he expects $150 billion in savings in the 2026 fiscal year from the work completed by DOGE.

The tech billionaire added that these cuts “will actually result in better services for the American people and we’re going to be spending their tax dollars in a way that is sensible and fair and good.”

Musk had initially said his goal was to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget, but backtracked in January, saying there was a “good shot” of trimming half that amount. According to the Musk Watch DOGE Tracker designed by data analyst Brian Banks, the task force has claimed approximately $11.7 billion in verifiable savings and $140 billion in claimed cuts as of April 12.

The task force said the receipts provided on its website—showing contract, grant and lease cancellations—represented about 30 percent of total savings, meaning the top-line figure is not yet verifiable.

What Happens Next?

With these legal barriers being reduced, DOGE can proceed with broader data collection efforts. According to a report from Wired, the task force is planning to create a “mega API” to access IRS data.

Meanwhile, Wunderly must complete Treasury Department training and submit financial disclosure documentation before gaining the authorized access specified in Vargas’ ruling.

Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.