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| Trump Administration Urges Immediate Reversal of ‘Impermissible’ Court Order Blocking Access to Treasury Systems |
The Trump administration is urgently seeking to lift a court order that restricts key officials from accessing the Treasury Department's vast payment system. The administration argues that the order is an unconstitutional infringement and should be immediately overturned.
In an 11-page filing, Justice Department attorneys argue that "basic democratic accountability" requires that all executive agencies be led by officials who are politically accountable and answerable to the president. They label the order as “impermissible” and “anti-constitutional.”
The Justice Department is requesting that U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan quickly end or adjust the order, which currently prevents Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other senior officials from receiving briefings on the payment system and carrying out their legally required duties.
The order was issued by U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer early Saturday, limiting access to the system to only career employees who had undergone the proper training. This decision followed a lawsuit filed by several states, concerned that allies of Elon Musk, embedded within the Treasury’s Department of Government Efficiency, were jeopardizing the security of the system by potentially opening it to hacking or manipulation.
Attorneys for the Justice Department are in talks with the states to reach a resolution that would narrow the scope of Engelmayer’s ruling. If an agreement isn't reached by 5 p.m. on Monday, Judge Vargas has indicated she will seek an expedited review by that evening.
The ruling sparked significant backlash among Trump supporters, who viewed it as an overreach by the judiciary into the president's ability to manage the Treasury, with some even suggesting the administration should disregard the order.
The Justice Department, however, has emphasized that Treasury officials have been complying with the restrictions. The only individual affected by the ruling who had prior access was Thomas Krause, an ally of Musk. In a seven-page statement, Krause confirmed he had adhered to the order, discontinuing his access as required.
Before the order, Krause’s access was described as “over the shoulder,” meaning he could view data accessed by authorized Treasury staff, including copies of source code. The filing also mentions Marko Elez, another Musk associate, who resigned last week following controversy over racist social media posts. The filing notes that Elez returned his equipment and credentials.
Despite following the court’s instructions, Krause stressed the importance of restoring access to the Treasury leadership so they can properly fulfill their duties. The system is also frequently accessed by external agencies and organizations making payments to the government.
The Justice Department is urging Judge Vargas to lift or delay the restrictions to allow Treasury officials to resume their work.
