A federal judge on Tuesday authorized a limited expansion of access by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to sensitive Treasury Department systems responsible for managing trillions of dollars in federal payments.
The decision follows months of legal scrutiny and procedural safeguards aimed at ensuring proper training and vetting of personnel.
US District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas ruled that four DOGE team members embedded at the Treasury Department may now access critical infrastructure operated by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The system manages nearly 90 percent of federal payments and contains personal financial data, including Social Security numbers and bank information.
The judge’s decision stems from a lawsuit filed in February by 19 Democratic state attorneys general who sought to block DOGE’s access, citing privacy and security concerns. At the time, Vargas issued a temporary injunction, expressing concern about the potential for irreparable harm. However, she later allowed access to one vetted DOGE employee, and Tuesday’s order builds upon that precedent.
In her ruling, Vargas stated that the Trump administration had demonstrated sufficient compliance with her earlier directive to implement training, security clearances, and oversight for DOGE personnel.
“There is little utility in having this Court function as Treasury’s de facto human resources officer each time a new team member is onboarded,” Vargas wrote.
The four DOGE employees newly authorized to access the system are Thomas Krause, Linda Whitridge, Samuel Corcos, and Todd Newnam. They join Ryan Wunderly, who was granted access in April after completing the requisite training and vetting process.
The ruling also permits the Treasury Department to grant future DOGE employees access without court approval, provided they undergo the same training and clearance procedures.
DOGE, a Trump-era initiative aimed at streamlining federal operations, has faced criticism and multiple lawsuits over its efforts to integrate personnel into agencies that manage sensitive and classified data. DOGE teams have also sought access to systems at the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Judge Vargas, a Biden appointee serving in New York, emphasized the importance of balancing administrative efficiency with the protection of personal data. Her decision is seen as a procedural victory for the Trump administration, which has argued that DOGE’s work is essential to improving government operations.
