A federal judge has limited access for certain government employees to the Treasury Department's payment systems amid allegations of unauthorized data sharing.
The decision coincided with the resignation of a Department of Government Efficiency employee linked to offensive social media activity according to The New York Post.
On Wednesday, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, appointed by President Bill Clinton, issued a temporary order restricting employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing the Treasury Department's payment systems.
This measure came in response to a lawsuit filed by three unions against Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The unions asserted that there was unauthorized sharing of their member information with Elon Musk's team.
The case has attracted significant attention given the parties involved. The unions—Alliance for Retired Americans, the American Federation of Government Employees, and the Service Employees International Union—are the complainants against the alleged information exchange handled by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
They claim that the unauthorized data sharing violated privacy norms, thus leading to the judicial intervention.
The judge's order temporarily allows only "read-only" access to payment records for Tom Krause and Marko Elez, identified as “special government employees.”
This arrangement aims to restrict any attempt to alter the records or distribute related data until further notice.
Furthermore, the decision prevents DOGE from making modifications to the Treasury payment records system or releasing any corresponding information. This step ensures the sanctity of the financial data while the case undergoes further review in the judiciary.
However, this issue took another turn on Thursday with the resignation of Marko Elez, a DOGE employee involved in the situation. His departure followed a report by the Wall Street Journal that identified him with some offensive posts on a social media account.
The social media account, thought to be connected to Marko Elez, was @nullllptr, which was previously using the handle @marko_elez. The Wall Street Journal reported that the account exhibited involvement in inappropriate online discourse.
Elez’s social media activity included sentiments supporting eugenic immigration policies and derogatory remarks about people from India. One reported statement prompted significant public ire, saying "Normalize Indian hate."
Following the revelations, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Elez's resignation. According to Leavitt, Elez was asked to address his controversial posts, leading to his decision to step down.
The context of Marko Elez’s resignation feeds into the broader judicial case regarding data-sharing practices by the Treasury Department led by Scott Bessent.
The three involved unions are seeking corrective actions and assurances against further unauthorized information disclosures.
The judge’s temporary order provides a breathing space for further investigation into these allegations. It allows the unions to present their concerns while ensuring none of their data is potentially mismanaged.
Elez’s resignation added another layer to the already complex narrative. His controversial online comments were not limited to one topic, as other posts allegedly included inflammatory remarks about Gaza and Israel as well as statements admitting to racist attitudes.
Leavitt’s statement regarding Elez's resignation signifies the White House's intention to address such issues promptly. By asking Elez to step down, the administration aims to stem any potential backlash stemming from his association with offensive social media activity.
