On Friday, federal judge Jeannette A. Vargas, from her office in New York, reaffirmed the blockade on the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by magnate Elon Musk, preventing its access to the United States Treasury’s payment system.
The measure, originally issued on February 8, remains in effect due to serious concerns about cybersecurity and the protection of sensitive data. In a thorough ruling of more than 60 pages, Judge Vargas supported the previous decision of Judge Paul Engelmayer, who had ordered the blockade following a lawsuit filed by nearly twenty state attorneys general.
In her resolution, Vargas urged the Donald Trump administration to prove, by March 24, that DOGE employees have adequate training in cybersecurity and digital security to protect the information contained in the payment system. The magistrate emphasized that, although the government’s goal of modernizing and streamlining the payment system is valid, data security cannot be overlooked.
“Without addressing these issues, the consequences of a cybersecurity breach could be catastrophic,” Vargas warned in her document, highlighting the risks of compromising such a crucial system.
The ruling also specifies that, if the government does not provide clear evidence of DOGE employees’ cybersecurity training and the security protocols they must follow, the blockade could be extended indefinitely. Additionally, the judge demanded a detailed report on strategies to manage potential threats as new technologies are integrated into the Treasury’s payment infrastructure.
The initial blockade, requested by state attorneys general, responded to concerns that DOGE’s access to the payment system could jeopardize the security of state financial data. In their lawsuit, the attorneys general argued that DOGE’s proposed policies lacked solid guarantees to protect the system from cyberattacks or confidential information leaks.
As part of the adopted measures, Judge Engelmayer also ordered the deletion of the data downloaded by DOGE since January 20, 2025, the day of Trump’s inauguration, to prevent this information from being used without proper oversight by the authorities responsible for monitoring the Treasury’s payment system.
Although the attorneys general requested a broader injunction preventing DOGE from performing any automated or manual operations affecting the Treasury’s payment system, Judge Vargas chose to limit the restrictions to protecting sensitive data, specifically focusing on the states’ banking information.
(With information from EFE and AP)
