Did Elon Musk’s DOGE Get Access to Sensitive US Citizen Data? AFL-CIO Sues Treasury

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the largest union federation in the US, has just made a bold move against the US Treasury. They’ve filed a lawsuit, claiming the Treasury has shared sensitive personal data of US citizens with a new government department led by none other than Elon Musk.

What’s behind this surprising legal action, and why are some of the country’s top senators sounding alarms?

Read on to find out what’s at stake and what could happen next.

The Lawsuit and the Allegations

Prominent US senators, including Ron Wyden, Chuck Schumer, and Elizabeth Warren, have strongly criticized the Treasury’s actions. Some senior Democratic senators are also preparing to introduce legislation to limit DOGE’s access to US public data. Here’s a breakdown of the situation.

The AFL-CIO has taken legal action against Scott Bessent, the Secretary of the US Treasury, accusing the department of sharing citizens’ personal information, such as Social Security numbers and bank details, with DOGE. This move has raised serious concerns, especially given Elon Musk’s leading role in the department.

What Is D.O.G.E and Why Is Musk Involved? 

DOGE was officially launched by former President Donald Trump early in his second term, with the concept first introduced in November 2024. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy were initially set to lead DOGE together, but Ramaswamy stepped down, citing political reasons.

Initially, DOGE was presented as an external committee that would suggest ways to reduce regulations, cut wasteful spending, and improve government agencies. However, the executive order transformed DOGE into an internal committee tasked with modernizing federal technology and software to boost government efficiency.

Interestingly, the executive order does not mention how the department would contribute to cutting federal spending.

Alarming Claims You Should Know

Senator Ron Wyden, a Democratic Party leader, has raised concerns that DOGE has complete access to the country’s payment systems, which store sensitive information like Social Security numbers and bank account details. These worries are shared by senators Charles Schumer and Elizabeth Warren, who have sharply criticized the Treasury’s actions. They argue that giving DOGE unrestricted access to personal data is a serious threat to privacy.

Reports suggest Schumer is preparing to propose legislation that would limit DOGE’s control over US public data and the Treasury.

As the lawsuit unfolds, the debate over privacy, government oversight, and Elon Musk’s influence on federal operations continues to grow.