TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined 18 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging a policy granting Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to federal payment systems containing Americans’ sensitive personal data.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday, alleges that the administration’s decision to allow Musk and DOGE officials access to the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Fiscal Services (BFS) payment system violates federal law. The BFS system manages disbursements for Social Security, veterans’ benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, and state funding for essential services such as law enforcement and infrastructure.
Here are 10 examples of what the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has identified as absurd spending by USAID, based on reports:
- Funding for Moroccan Pottery Classes – USAID spent $2 million on pottery classes in Morocco.
- Promoting Tourism to Lebanon – An expenditure of $2 million was allocated to promote tourism in Lebanon, amidst regional instability.
- Sesame Street in Iraq – A $20 million investment went into creating “Ahlan Simsim,” a new version of Sesame Street for Iraqi children.
- Binary Language Training – USAID funded $7.9 million for training in binary language, which seems disconnected from immediate developmental needs.
- Combatting Disinformation in Kazakhstan – Over $4.5 million was used to combat disinformation, which some might view as an overreach or misallocation of funds.
- Disability Art Inclusion – $1.5 million was spent on art projects to include people with disabilities, though the direct impact on development goals might be questioned.
- LGBT Activism in Guatemala – $2 million was directed towards supporting LGBT activism, which has been a point of contention in some conservative circles.
- Feminist Digital Spaces – An allocation of $6 million went towards transforming digital spaces to reflect feminist democratic principles, which critics argue is not a core development priority.
- DEI in Serbia’s Workplaces – $1.5 million was spent to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces, which some view as an excessive focus on cultural rather than economic development.
- Transgender Opera in Colombia – USAID funded $47,000 for the production of a transgender opera, which, while culturally significant, has been highlighted for its niche focus by those scrutinizing foreign aid spending.
Platkin and the coalition argue that only authorized government personnel with security clearances should have access to BFS data, which includes banking information and Social Security numbers. The lawsuit contends that the policy change endangers financial security and could enable unauthorized individuals to interfere with federal funding.
“President Trump has allowed an unelected billionaire to infiltrate key federal agencies and systems that store Social Security numbers, banking information, and other extremely sensitive data,” Platkin said in a statement.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction to halt the policy and a court ruling declaring the Treasury Department’s decision unlawful and unconstitutional.
