The Trump administration is pushing back against a court ruling that prevents political appointees from accessing Treasury Department systems. The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, restricts access to Treasury databases, barring officials including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from overseeing key financial operations.
The ruling was made ex parte, meaning the administration was not given prior notice or a chance to respond before the decision was issued. The order limits access to Treasury systems to career civil servants only and requires the immediate deletion of any financial records obtained by DOGE since Trump took office on January 20.
In response, the administration filed an emergency motion arguing that the order is unconstitutional and infringes on executive authority. The motion asserts that Article II of the Constitution mandates presidential supervision over the executive branch and that a federal court cannot sever this authority.
Vice President JD Vance criticized the ruling, comparing it to a judge interfering with military operations. “A judge has no right to dictate how the executive branch oversees its own agencies,” he stated. Treasury officials have warned that the order could disrupt essential financial operations, including Social Security and tax refund processing.
A hearing is scheduled for February 14, where the court will decide whether to extend or modify the restraining order. The administration has requested an immediate stay on the ruling while legal arguments continue.
The legal dispute stems from a lawsuit filed by 19 Democratic-led states, which claim DOGE lacks the authority to access Treasury data. The administration insists that political appointees must be able to supervise agency functions to ensure accountability.
