Lawsuit against Trump administration, Wisconsin joins coalition
Wisconsin Capitol, Madison
MADISON, Wis. - Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul on Friday announced Wisconsin joined a coalition of states in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration. Here's why.
Payment system access
What they're saying:
According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the lawsuit aims to "stop the unauthorized disclosure of Americans’ private information and sensitive data." It also asserts that the Trump administration illegally provided Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency – or DOGE – unauthorized access to the U.S. Treasury Department’s central payment system.
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The Wisconsin DOJ said the payment system contains "sensitive personal information," including bank account details and Social Security numbers. The DOJ said access could "allow Musk and his team to block federal funds to states and programs providing health care, childcare, and other critical services."
With the lawsuit, the Wisconsin DOJ said the coalition of states hopes to stop the Trump administration’s new policy that "illegally grants DOGE, Musk, and others access to Americans’ confidential information and the U.S. Treasury’s payment systems."
Madison protest against Trump, Musk one of many across country
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Wisconsin Capitol in Madison to protest against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk on Wednesday.
The states are seeking an injunction that prevents the Trump administration from continuing its new policy of expanded access to the payment system, according to the Wisconsin DOJ, as well as a declaration that the Treasury Department’s policy change is unlawful and unconstitutional.
Big picture view:
States joining Wisconsin in filing the lawsuit include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont.
The lawsuit comes at the end of a week that saw protests in cities across the country, including Madison.
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The other side:
In Washington this week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended DOGE.
"They don’t even know what they’re talking about, because President Trump was elected with a mandate from the American people to make this government more efficient," she said. "He campaigned across this country with Elon Musk vowing that Elon was going to head up the Department of Government Efficiency, and the two of them, with a great team around them, were going to look at the receipts of the federal government and ensure it’s accountable to American taxpayers."
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) on Wednesday responded to criticism as well.
"I applaud Elon Musk, I applaud the Trump administration," he said. "Democrats aren’t outraged by this. What they’re outraged by is Elon Musk – he’s unelected."
The Source: Information in this report is from the Wisconsin Department of Justice.