A federal judge in New York has partially reinstated the main block that has hindered President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing confidential payment information at the Treasury Department.
US District Judge Jeanette A. Vargas issued a third ruling on Friday allowing one DOGE staff member access to sensitive payment details at the Treasury. An employee identified as Ryan Wonderley is required to undergo the same training as other federal staff members.
Additionally, a financial disclosure report must be filed under the newly updated temporary injunction.
The ruling contended that DOGE’s access to financial records infringed on privacy following a lawsuit by a coalition of 19 Democratic attorneys general, led by New York Attorney General Leticia James, against the Trump administration in February. The lawsuit claimed that political appointees shouldn’t have access to documents including Social Security and bank account numbers.
The group, spearheaded by tech billionaire and senior advisor Elon Musk, asserted that access was essential to modernize the payment system as the president aimed to reform the federal workforce and cut government expenditure.
In earlier rulings, Vargas maintained certain restrictions imposed by another federal judge that barred political appointees and special government appointees, like Musk, from accessing private data. Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent and other department heads were notably exempt, despite their roles requiring Senate confirmation.
The ruling prompted the Department of Justice to request the removal of the ban from US District Judge Paul Engelmeyer. This new ruling was more extensive than the preceding arrangement the administration made to temporarily restrict access for two DOGE officials, Marco Erez and Tom Klaus.
When Erez resigned after being associated with a racist social media post, the Trump administration indicated that Wonderley would take his place.
In a statement regarding the situation, the administration noted that Wunderly’s skills were “crucial to the Treasury DOGE team’s efforts,” and affirmed that he had received appropriate training.
Erez has since returned.
