HONOLULU - Attorney General Anne Lopez claimed a major victory for the people of Hawai?i today in a lawsuit brought by Attorney General Lopez and a coalition of 19 attorneys general, where Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York issued an order granting the coalition’s motion for a preliminary injunction, barring the government from allowing unauthorized government employees like Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or “DOGE,” to access the Treasury’s central payment system while the coalition’s lawsuit proceeds.

Attorney General Lopez filed the lawsuit on February 7, 2025, asserting that the Trump administration illegally provided Elon Musk and DOGE unauthorized access to the Treasury Department’s central payment system, and therefore to Americans’ most sensitive personal information, including bank account details and Social Security numbers. This expanded access could allow Musk and his team to block federal funds to states and programs providing health care, childcare, and other critical services. Judge Vargas’ ruling today follows her earlier ruling on February 8, 2025, issuing a temporary restraining order.

“The people of Hawai?i have every reason to be outraged at the reckless conduct of the Trump administration with their personal identifying information and financial data. As the court correctly recognized, the U.S. Treasury’s systems contain highly sensitive data about Americans and that there is a substantial risk of harm where data access protocols do not vet the employees or train them in data security measures,” said Attorney General Anne Lopez. “The Department of the Attorney General will continue to fight to ensure that the federal government remains accountable to the people of this state and to the rule of law upon which our nation is based.”

The state of Hawai?i is represented in this matter by Solicitor General Kaliko?on?lani Fernandes and Special Assistant to the Attorney General Dave Day.

Joining Attorney General James in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.