The Trump administration has moved to vacate a temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge that prevents political appointees from accessing critical Treasury Department systems. The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, prohibits all political appointees — including those in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — from accessing sensitive payment systems.
The administration argues that the ruling violates Article II of the Constitution, which establishes the executive branch and the president’s authority to oversee federal agencies. In an emergency motion filed Sunday night, administration officials stated, “No court can issue an injunction that directly severs the clear line of supervision Article II requires.”
Judge Engelmayer’s order, issued Saturday, restricts access to Treasury databases to civil servants only, explicitly barring all political appointees. This includes DOGE, led by Elon Musk, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The ruling also mandates the immediate destruction of any records copied by DOGE since Trump took office on January 20.
The order is set to remain in effect until a February 14 hearing, where the court will decide whether to extend or modify the restrictions. Meanwhile, the administration has requested an immediate stay of the order, arguing that it obstructs government operations and causes irreparable harm.
Vice President JD Vance criticized the decision, stating that it undermines executive authority. “If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal. Judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power,” Vance said.
The case stems from a lawsuit filed by 19 Democratic-led states, which argue that DOGE lacks the authority to access Treasury’s financial systems. However, the administration insists that politically appointed officials must be able to oversee agency operations to ensure accountability.
The legal battle over DOGE’s authority and the Treasury Department’s financial systems is set to intensify in the coming days, as the Trump administration continues to push back against judicial intervention in executive oversight.
