Attorney General Aaron D. Ford expressed satisfaction following a federal judge's decision to grant a preliminary injunction in the case State of New York v. Donald J. Trump. The lawsuit, joined by Ford and 18 other attorneys general, seeks to prevent the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing personal information held by the Department of the Treasury.
"Today’s preliminary injunction is a victory for the rule of law and for Nevadans," stated Attorney General Ford. He emphasized the importance of safeguarding citizens' privacy and maintaining governmental checks and balances. "By allowing DOGE staff to access Department of Treasury data, President Trump broke the law and endangered the private, personal information of Nevadans and Americans."
The legal action claims that unauthorized access was given to Elon Musk and DOGE by the Trump administration, compromising sensitive personal information such as bank account details and Social Security numbers. This was allegedly facilitated through a new policy implemented on February 2, 2025, which allowed "special government employees," including Musk and DOGE members, access to the central payment system managed by the Bureau of Fiscal Services (BFS).
The BFS system oversees crucial funding for programs like Social Security payments, veteran benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, as well as state funding for services like law enforcement and infrastructure repairs. Access to this system is typically restricted by federal law to specific career civil servants with security clearances.
Ford argues that expanding access violates federal laws and risks Americans' sensitive data while enabling unauthorized individuals to potentially freeze federal funds unconstitutionally.