Summary

Judge Paul Engelmayer issued a temporary restraining order blocking unauthorized access to Treasury data, requiring background checks before handling sensitive information.

The ruling delays data access for less than a week, but Trump, Musk, and their allies claim it’s judicial overreach.

The Privacy Act of 1974 and other laws back the decision, preventing breaches of personal data.

Critics argue the administration’s response seeks to delegitimize judicial oversight and justify ignoring court orders, as part of a broader push to erode constitutional checks on executive power.