Musk Claps Back at ‘Super Shady’ Federal Judge Temporarily Blocking DOGE

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing certain U.S. government systems following a lawsuit filed by 19 Democratic attorneys general.

The ruling, issued on Saturday by U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer, comes amid controversy over DOGE’s role in monitoring federal spending.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in New York by Attorney General Letitia James, argues that President Donald Trump’s administration does not have the authority to grant Musk’s team access to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s systems.

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These systems contain information on Social Security, Medicare, veterans’ benefits, and tax refunds.

The lawsuit contends that providing DOGE with “full access” to such sensitive data violates federal law.

“Musk and DOGE have no authority to access Americans’ private information and some of our country’s most sensitive data,” James said in a statement.

She also argued that Trump “does not have the power to give away Americans’ private information to anyone he chooses, and he cannot cut federal payments approved by Congress.”

The magnitude of the fraud in government payments (your tax dollars being spent) is MUCH higher than you think! https://t.co/umnT8Zm4Mb

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 8, 2025

Judge Engelmayer sided with the plaintiffs, stating that their claims were “particularly strong” and raising concerns about cybersecurity risks associated with DOGE’s access to Treasury data.

“That is both because of the risk that the new policy presents of the disclosure of sensitive and confidential information and the heightened risk that the systems in question will be more vulnerable than before to hacking,” Engelmayer wrote in his ruling.

Musk condemned the decision in a post on X, calling the ruling “absolutely insane” and accusing the judge of being “an activist posing as a judge.”

He further defended DOGE’s mission, questioning how government waste and fraud could be addressed without reviewing financial data.

“How on Earth are we supposed to stop fraud and waste of taxpayer money without looking at how money is spent?” Musk wrote on Saturday.

This ruling is absolutely insane!

How on Earth are we supposed to stop fraud and waste of taxpayer money without looking at how money is spent?

That’s literally impossible!

Something super shady is going to protect scammers. https://t.co/7Eyy9ZsN7A

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 8, 2025

“New York Judge Paul Engelmayer just forbade all political appointees — including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent — from accessing Dept. of Treasury data, all based on Blueanon conspiracy theories!!

Those theories couldn’t be challenged because the order was EX PARTE — meaning Trump’s lawyers weren’t warned, and couldn’t weigh in. Only Democrat Attorneys General were allowed to argue.

The judge cites no law or logic to support this unprecedented order, because it defies both. The judge’s ruling is, in essence, that Scott Bessent simply occupies a ceremonial position without real power, like the King of England.

This is a grenade thrown into the functioning of the Treasury Department.

It forbids the elected government from accessing information about budget and finances. Instead, only the permanent, deep-state government can know what’s being spent.

It means Scott Bessent’s subordinates have far more power than Scott Bessent does.

Democrat pundits who whine about the Constitution are liars, and will shred it the first chance they get.

For now, the order is only for the next week, but if a court tries to make it permanent the Trump Administration should absolutely consider defying it.

Better yet, SCOTUS should bar this judge from ever hearing similar cases again, and every Democrat lawyer involved should be sanctioned.” – Charlie Kirk

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has expressed support for DOGE and Musk’s efforts, stating that federal spending should be more transparent.

In a recent interview on Fox Business’ Kudlow, Bessent argued that the federal government has “a spending problem” rather than a revenue issue.

“At the Treasury, our payment system is not being touched,” Bessent said during the interview. “We process 1.3 billion payments a year. There is a study being done—can we have more accountability, more accuracy, more traceability that the money is going where it is?”

Bessent also defended DOGE, suggesting that the pushback from government officials indicates resistance to change.

“They are moving a lot of people’s cheese here in the capital, and when you hear this squawking, then some status quo interest is not happy,” Bessent said.

Meanwhile, Musk and his supporters argue that the commission is necessary to curb government inefficiency and prevent wasteful spending.

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