By: Richard L. Smith
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined a coalition of 14 state attorneys general in taking legal action against the U.S. Department of the Treasury over its decision to grant Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) staffers access to sensitive financial systems containing Americans’ personal data. 
According to a statement released by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, the coalition is challenging what they describe as an unprecedented and unlawful move that puts millions of Americans’ private financial information at risk.
“In the past week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has given Elon Musk access to Americans’ personal private information, state bank account data, and other information that is some of our country’s most sensitive data,” the statement reads.
The attorneys general argue that neither Musk nor his organization has any legal authority to access such information, which includes critical financial data used to administer federal aid programs such as healthcare, childcare, and social services.
They allege that Musk and his team sought this access to interfere with federal payments—funding that directly supports millions of Americans in need.
“As the richest man in the world, Elon Musk is not used to being told ‘no,’ but in our country, no one is above the law,” the statement continues.
“The President does not have the power to give away our private information to anyone he chooses, and he cannot cut federal payments approved by Congress.”
With legal action now in motion, the coalition is seeking to prevent the Treasury Department from granting DOGE further access and to safeguard Americans’ personal financial data from unauthorized use. 
Joining Attorney General Platkin in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
The lawsuit represents a significant legal challenge to the federal government’s handling of sensitive financial data, underscoring broader concerns about data privacy, government oversight, and the rule of law.