Alliance For Retired Americans Sues Treasury Department to Protect Americans’ Personal and Financial Data
| On Monday, the Alliance, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) sued the Department of Treasury to block sharing of sensitive confidential data with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), run by Elon Musk. |
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| The Department of Treasury maintains the sensitive personal and financial information of millions of Americans, and federal laws protect such data from improper disclosure and misuse, including by barring disclosure to individuals who lack a lawful and legitimate need for it. |
Instead of protecting the private information of Americans as required by law, the complaint explains, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took punitive measures against officials who sought to protect that information from improper access and allowed DOGE full access to the data.
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotellyissued an interim order on Wednesday that prevents Musk or others affiliated with DOGE from accessing the payment records while the case proceeds. The agreement will remain in placeuntil February 24, when additional arguments will be considered.
“Retirees deserve to receive the benefits they earned and paid for without fear that their personal information could be compromised by Elon Musk and his lackeys,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance. “We urge the court to make a permanent ruling that stops this unlawful theft or disclosure of our data.” |