Court Rules
All enforcement actions
Enforcement ActionCritical RiskMultistate

Coalition of 19 AGs Sues Trump, Treasury Over DOGE Data Access

Treasury DepartmentFebruary 7, 2025Connecticut Attorney General

Summary

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 19 attorneys general in suing President Trump and the U.S. Treasury to stop DOGE's unauthorized access to the Treasury's central payment system and confidential records, calling it the largest data breach in American history. The lawsuit seeks an injunction to block the expanded access policy and a declaration that it is unlawful.

Remedy

Seeking an injunction to prevent the Treasury Department from granting expanded access to its central payment system and a declaration that the policy change is unlawful and unconstitutional.

Injunction

Contract Impact

In-house legal teams should review all vendor, customer, and government contracts where the company handles federal payment systems, sensitive personal data (e.g., Social Security numbers, bank details), or confidential U.S. Treasury information. Focus on clauses governing data access rights, confidentiality obligations, system security standards, breach notification procedures, and compliance with federal data protection laws. Contracts may need amendments to restrict unauthorized access, mandate encryption of sensitive data, require immediate breach reporting to the government, incorporate specific federal compliance certifications, and clarify audit rights for government oversight. Pay special attention to any provisions allowing third-party (e.g., DOGE-like entities) access to systems or data, and ensure indemnification covers government data breaches.

Contract Search Terms

unauthorized access clauseconfidential records handlingpayment system securitydata breach notificationfederal data compliancethird-party access policysensitive data protectiondata retention requirements

Violation Types

Entity Details

Entity

Treasury Department

Also known as: U.S. Treasury

Industry

Financial Services

Multistate Coalition

ArizonaCaliforniaColoradoDelawareHawaiiIllinoisMaineMarylandMassachusettsMinnesotaNevadaNew JerseyNew YorkNorth CarolinaOregonRhode IslandVermontWisconsin

Official Sources

Source Evidence

Entity Name
"Treasury Department"
Violation Types
"illegally provided Elon Musk and the so-called 'Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)' unauthorized access to the Treasury Department’s central payment system"
Violation Types
"This is the largest data breach in American history."

Related Enforcement Actions

CT

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of states and local governments in filing suit against NHTSA over its rule weakening fuel economy standards for new passenger cars and light trucks. The lawsuit alleges the rule violates the agency’s statutory mandate and the Administrative Procedure Act; no penalty or final remedy is reported.

CT

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a multistate coalition suing the EPA over its repeal of greenhouse gas pollution limits for power plants and separately filed a notice of intent to sue over regulation of existing gas plants. The coalition asks the court to overturn the repeal and restore the protections; the release reports no monetary penalty or final order.

CT

Sandoz Inc. and Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc.

$400.0M

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a $400 million settlement with Sandoz Inc. and Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc. resolving allegations that the generic drug manufacturers conspired to inflate prices, limit competition, and restrain trade. The settlement includes consumer restitution and injunctive reforms; court approval was being sought.

CT

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in submitting a comment letter opposing a DHS rule that allows certain affirmative asylum applications to be referred to removal proceedings without an asylum officer interview. The coalition argues the rule violates federal law and harms asylum seekers, including unaccompanied children; this was a policy opposition letter, not a privacy enforcement action.

CT

NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy

Connecticut and Massachusetts co-led a coalition protest urging FERC to reject the proposed NextEra Energy-Dominion Energy merger. The coalition argued that the merger could increase market power and threaten energy affordability, reliability, and competition; the release does not report a final enforcement decision or penalty.

CT

Unspecified home improvement contractors

Connecticut officials warned residents about potential home improvement scams before an approaching nor’easter, including unlicensed contractors, high-pressure sales tactics, and demands for full payment upfront. The release provides consumer guidance on checking contractors and contract requirements; it does not announce an enforcement action or penalty against a named entity.