Unions representing federal workers have filed a lawsuit against the Treasury Department and its head, Scott Bessent, to stop Elon Musk and his team from accessing the federal payment system. The unions argue that this move illegally exposes the personal and financial details of millions of Americans.

This legal action is the latest in a series of efforts by unions to challenge directives from the Trump administration that they believe weaken the federal government. The administration has been pushing for resignations from much of the federal workforce while also attempting to control how money for programs approved by Congress is spent.

Musk and his advisers, who lead an outside group called the Department of Government Efficiency, gained access to the Treasury’s payment system late last week. This group aims to cut waste in federal operations, but their access has sparked controversy.

The lawsuit highlights that the payment system handles over $5 trillion annually, including payments like tax refunds, veteran benefits, salaries, and Social Security. Federal law strictly limits who can access this sensitive information. The unions claim Musk and his team violated privacy laws and that Bessent overstepped his authority by granting them access.

This dispute marks another chapter in Musk’s ongoing clash with federal bureaucracy. The Trump administration recently removed a top Treasury official who had refused to allow Musk’s team into the system. Former Treasury staffers say this kind of access for political appointees is unprecedented.