Judge blocks federal government from sharing people’s financial data with DOGE
THIS IS WIFE NEWS FOR TODAY. COMING UP ON WYFF NEWS FOUR SOUTH CAROLINA LAWMAKERS REACTING TO A NEW BILL AIMED AT ENDING DIE AT THE STATE LEVEL. PLUS, WATERWAY DEBRIS REMOVAL UNDERWAY IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY. MORE THAN FOUR MONTHS AFTER HURRICANE HELENE. GOOD MORNING. I’M PEYTON FURTADO. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON YOUR SATURDAY MORNING, 701. LET’S TAKE A LOOK OUTSIDE. THIS IS OUR HILTON GREENVILLE SKYCAM GORGEOUS WEATHER ON THE HORIZON. 57 DEGREES OUT THERE, CLOUDY SKIES FOR SURE. BUT YOU KNOW WHO WOULD KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS? SYDNEY SULLIVAN. SHE’S HERE WITH US WITH A MORNING OUTLOOK. SYDNEY, HOW’S OUR WEEKEND LOOKING? FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY THIS WEEKEND NOT BAD AT ALL. ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A FAN OF THOSE SPRING LIKE TEMPERATURES. WE GET TO KEEP THAT AROUND A LITTLE BIT LONGER. IT IS GOING TO COME WITH A SMALL OPPORTUNITY FOR SEEING A FEW SPOTTY SHOWERS. MOST OF US WILL SEE MORE DRY TIME THAN ANYTHING. BIG PICTURE THOUGH. MORE CLOUD COVER ACROSS THE REGION AND WE ARE TRACKING JUST A FEW VERY LIGHT SHOWERS ACROSS PARTS OF THE UPSTATE. AGAIN, MOST OF US ARE DRY, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, PUSHING RIGHT THROUGH SPARTANBURG LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINFALL, MOVING EASTWARD. SO GAFFNEY, YOU MIGHT GET GRAZED BY SOME OF THIS, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE REST OF US ARE NICE AND DRY TEMPERATURE WISE. NOT TOO BAD FOR FEBRUARY STANDARDS BY ANY MEANS. THIS IS REALLY FAIRLY COMFORTABLE. YES, YOU MIGHT NEED A JACKET HEADING OUT THE DOOR THIS AFTERNOON. NOT TOO BAD. SITTING AT 56 IN GREENVILLE, 58, IN ANDERSON, SPARTANBURG 54 AND 45 IN ASHEVILLE. SO AS WE MOVE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, DUE TO INCREASED CLOUD COVER AND THE SMALL CHANCE FOR A PASSING SHOWER OR TWO, IT WILL KEEP OUR TEMPERATURES FAIRLY STEADY. WE SHOULD GET INTO THE LOWER 60S ACROSS THE UPSTATE, BUT WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. SLIGHTLY BETTER CHANCE OF SEEING TEMPERATURES EVEN WARMER MID TO UPPER 60S POSSIBLE FOR PARTS OF THE MOUNTAINS, SO SHOULD BE A FAIRLY QUIET DAY FOR MOST OF US OTHER THAN A SHOWER OR TWO, BUT WE HAVE EVEN WARMER TEMPERATURES HEADED OUR WAY AND HAVE A CLOSER LOOK COMING UP. PEYTON, THANK YOU SO MUCH, SYDNEY. WE’RE GOING TO SOME BREAKING NEWS IN GREENVILLE COUNTY, WHERE THE CORONER HAS IDENTIFIED THE VICTIM OF A DEADLY SHOOTING. THEY SAY THIS HAPPENED ON HOWELL CIRCLE AROUND 415 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. WE’RE TOLD. WE’RE TOLD DEPUTIES FOUND A WOMAN, 25 YEAR OLD KYLIE RUTLEDGE, SHOT. SHE DIED ON THE SCENE. INVESTIGATORS DON’T HAVE ANY SUSPECT INFORMATION AT THIS POINT. AND AN AUTOPSY IS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY. MOVING ON. STAYING IN GREENVILLE COUNTY. THE CORONER’S OFFICE HAS IDENTIFIED THE VICTIM OF A DEADLY MOTORCYCLE CRASH. HERE’S EXCLUSIVE SKY4 VIDEO OF THAT SCENE. WE’RE TOLD THIS HAPPENED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON ON AN EXIT RAMP FROM I-35 TO I-85, JUST OUTSIDE OF GREENVILLE. THE CORONER HAS IDENTIFIED THAT MOTORCYCLIST AS 44 YEAR OLD ANGEL RIVERA. THE CORONER SAYS RIVERA WAS EJECTED AFTER GOING OUTSIDE OF THE LANE, AND SOUTH CAROLINA LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING TO END DUI INITIATIVES IN THE STATE. A BILL WAS INTRODUCED THURSDAY AT THE STATEHOUSE THAT WOULD END GOVERNMENT DUI PROGRAMS AND STATE FUNDING FOR BUSINESSES, WITH THOSE DUI PROGRAMS. OUR NATE STANLEY SPOKE WITH THE SPONSOR OF THAT BILL AND HAS THE STORY. I THINK A PERSON OUGHT TO BE TREATED ON WHO THEY ARE, THEIR OWN MERITS. AND SO BE. I DIDN’T DO THAT. IT SET UP SPECIAL INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS FOR SPECIAL GROUPS OF PEOPLE. DEA IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK IN SOUTH CAROLINA AS LAWMAKERS CONSIDER THE ENDING ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION AND RESTORING MERIT BASED OPPORTUNITY ACT. REPRESENTATIVE HYATT SAYS THE BILL’S LANGUAGE IS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO PRESIDENT TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDER. WE SHOULDN’T BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN ANY IN ANY WAY AND DOING AWAY WITH THE ICE SORT OF BRINGS EVERYBODY BACK TO THE LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. HE SAYS THAT COMPANIES MOVING TO SOUTH CAROLINA WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO STATE FUNDS IF THEY HAVE DUI PROGRAMS IN PLACE. IF YOU’RE DOING BUSINESS WITH SOUTH CAROLINA AS A CONTRACTOR OR SUBCONTRACTOR, AND YOU BELIEVE THAT THAT’S PART OF WHAT YOU NEED TO BE DOING, THEN YOU’LL NO LONGER BE DOING BUSINESS WITH SOUTH CAROLINA. I MEAN, THE FUNDING WILL GO AWAY. THE JOINT RESOLUTION IS RECEIVING PUSHBACK FROM SOME LAWMAKERS. SPARTANBURG REPRESENTATIVE DOCTOR ROSALYN HENDERSON MYERS BELIEVES THE BILL WILL UNDO DECADES OF HISTORY AND PROGRESS FOR WOMEN AND MINORITY GROUPS, BUT IT’S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN DISENFRANCHIZED, DISENFRANCHIZED AND, YOU KNOW, NOT ABLE TO GET GOOD JOBS OR GET A GREAT EDUCATION SO THAT THEY CAN LIFT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES UP FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. SHE’S ALSO WORRIED IF THE BILL BECOMES LAW, BUSINESSES WILL BE LESS LIKELY TO MOVE TO SOUTH CAROLINA. SO YOU WANT TO CONDUCT SPECIAL PROGRAMS TO HELP YOUR EMPLOYEE BASE. THEN, YOU KNOW YOU MIGHT NOT YOU’RE NOT WELCOME TO DO THAT. THAT WAS OUR NATE STANLEY REPORTING. AND THIS COMES AFTER THE UNC SYSTEM IS NO LONGER REQUIRING STUDENTS TO TAKE COURSES ON DEI IN ORDER TO GRADUATE. THE SYSTEM’S TOP LAWYER OUTLINED THE CHANGE TO CHANCELLOR CHANCELLORS IN HIS MEMO THIS WEEK. THE MOVE IS IN RESPONSE TO AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ISSUED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDING FEDERAL DEI REQUIREMENTS TO AVOID LOSING FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE UNC SYSTEM, SAYS ALL DIVERSITY FOCUSED COURSES WILL NOW BE CHANGED TO GENERAL ELECTIVES, AND THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAS STARTED A NEW MISSION REMOVING DEBRIS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA WATERWAY DEBRIS REMOVAL STARTED LAST SATURDAY. OFFICIALS SAY THEY’VE CLEARED 16,000YD IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY, ALONG WITH REMOVING HAZARDOUS WATERWAY DEBRIS. ENGINEERS SAY THE ARMY CORPS HAS ALSO STARTED REMOVING DEBRIS FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY. WE’RE PLANNING TO GET ANOTHER CREW IN PLACE AND MOBILIZE THIS WEEKEND. WE’RE TRYING TO GET WORK STARTED THERE WITHIN THE RIVER ARTS DISTRICT OFF OF THE FRENCH BROAD. WE HAVE TO BRING IN SOME DIFFERENT TYPES OF EQUIPMENT. WE’VE GOT DEEPER WATER THERE, SO WE’RE WORKING WITH OUR CONTRACTOR. THEY’RE GOING TO BRING IN SOME BARGES THAT WILL THEN ALLOW US TO GAIN THE ACCESS AND BE ABLE TO MANAGE AND HANDLE THAT MATERIAL. HE SAYS THEY ARE TRYING TO REMOVE ALL WATERWAY DEBRIS IN PUBLIC BY JUNE 1ST AND JUNE 30TH. FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY AND HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM WILL BE IN ASHEVILLE TODAY TO MEET WITH HELENE SURVIVORS, ACCORDING TO HER OFFICE. SHE’LL ALSO GET BRIEFINGS ABOUT THE ONGOING RECOVERY EFFORTS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND MEET WITH SOME NORTH CAROLINA LAWMAKERS AND FEMA REPRESENTATIVES. NOEM’S VISIT TO ASHEVILLE IS JUST THE LATEST BY HIGH RANKING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP MADE A VISIT TO THE AREA TWO WEEKS AGO, AND AN OCONEE COUNTY DEPUTY STANDS ACCUSED OF MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE. SLED SAYS JUSTIN PELFREY IS FACING SEVERAL CHARGES, INCLUDING PUBLIC OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE. WARRANTS SAY PELFREY COMMITTED WRONGDOINGS AND USED HIS POSITION TO CONDUCT SURVEILLANCE FOR PERSONAL GAIN. WE’RE TOLD THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN PICKENS COUNTY AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT HAS SET A MARCH 7TH DATE FOR THE STATE’S NEXT EXECUTION. ON FRIDAY, THE JUSTICES REJECTED A REQUEST FROM BRAD SIGMUND’S, LAWYERS TO DELAY SETTING A DATE UNTIL THEY GET AUTOPSY RESULTS FROM THE INMATE KILLED IN LAST WEEK’S LETHAL INJECTION. SIGMUND’S ATTORNEY SAYS THEY WANT THE AUTOPSY REPORT SO SIGMUND CAN DECIDE HOW HE WANTS TO DIE BY LETHAL INJECTION. ELECTRIC CHAIR OR FIRING SQUAD. THE 67 YEAR OLD WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR THE 2001 KILLINGS OF HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND’S PARENTS IN GREENVILLE. HE WILL BE THE FOURTH INMATE TO BE PUT TO DEATH SINCE THE STATE RESUMED EXECUTIONS LAST SEPTEMBER, AND A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE IN A SPRAWLING LEGAL BATTLE FOLLOWING THE 2024 ELECTION IN NORTH CAROLINA. YESTERDAY, A WAKE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE RULED IN FAVOR OF DEMOCRATIC JUSTICE ALLISON RIGGS. THE RULING COMES AFTER GOP CANDIDATE JUDGE JEFFERSON GRIFFIN ATTEMPTED TO THROW OUT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BALLOTS. DURING THE ELECTION, RIGGS LED BY 734 VOTES AFTER MULTIPLE RECOUNTS. GRIFFIN’S LAWYERS ALLEGED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CAST BALLOTS WHO WERE NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, AND OTHERS VIOLATED STATE LAWS. THEY CANNOT BE DISENFRANCHIZED. OUR SUPREME COURT HAS AFFIRMATIVELY AND CONSISTENTLY TAKEN THIS POSITION FOR OVER 100 YEARS. THE JUDGE SAYS THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WAS CORRECT TO DISMISS GRIFFIN’S COMPLAINTS AND SIDED WITH RIGGS AND 19 DEMOCRATIC ATTORNEYS GENERAL, INCLUDING JEFF JACKSON OF NORTH CAROLINA, FILED A LAWSUIT TO STOP THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROM UNLAWFULLY SHARING AMERICANS PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL DATA WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY. NOW, THAT SUIT WAS FILED YESTERDAY IN FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK CITY. IT ALLEGES THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ALLOWED ELON MUSK’S TEAM TO ACCESS THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT’S CENTRAL PAYMENT SYSTEM, WHICH IS IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW. THE PAYMENT SYSTEM HANDLES TAX REFUNDS, SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, VETERANS BENEFITS AND MORE. REALITY TV PERSONALITY AND FORMER STATE TREASURER THOMAS RAVENEL SAYS HE’S RUNNING FOR SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR. RAVENEL MADE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SAYING IN PART, QUOTE, I HAVE A MESSAGE THAT’S GOING TO CHANGE, NOT JUST SOUTH CAROLINA, BUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, END QUOTE. SOUTH CAROLINA WILL ELECT A NEW GOVERNOR NEXT YEAR. GOVERNOR HENRY MCMASTER HAS REACHED HIS TERM LIMIT, AND AN UPSTATE TEENAGER WILL RECEIVE A REMARKABLE HONOR LATER THIS MONTH FOR A HEROIC, LIFE SAVING ACT. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023, AN 18 WHEELER SLAMMED INTO A CAR ON INTERSTATE 385 SOUTH IN SIMPSONVILLE. BOTH THE 18 WHEELER AND VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. 14 YEAR OLD MCKINLEY TURNER, ALONG WITH TWO OTHERS, JUMPED INTO ACTION TO PULL THAT DRIVER FROM THE VEHICLE THAT WAS HIT BEFORE HER CAR BECAME FULLY ENGULFED. TURNER, WHO WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH HER MOM, HAD JUST RECEIVED HER CPR CERTIFICATION LESS THAN A WEEK BEFORE THIS CRASH. SHE WAS ABLE TO USE THAT TRAINING TO ADMINISTER CRITICAL AID. I JUST REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO SEE THAT NO MATTER YOUR AGE, YOU’RE CAPABLE OF THINGS AND THE RECOGNITION IS COOL, BUT IT’S NOT WHAT IT’S ABOUT. TURNER, WHO IS NOW 16 YEARS OLD, IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE CIVIL AIR PATROL. SHORTLY AFTER HER BRAVE ACT, SHE WAS NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD AND SHE FOUND OUT RECENTLY SHE WILL BE RECEIVING THAT AWARD. I NEVER DID IT FOR THE MEDAL. I DID IT FOR THE PEOPLE. I DID IT FOR THE WHOLE POINT OF, HEY, I’M YOUNG, BUT I’VE DONE MY TRAINING. I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING. I FEEL CONFIDENT I CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I CAN DO SOMETHING FOR THE GREATER GOOD. TURNER SAYS SHE WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING CPR AND STEPPING IN TO HELP. WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF. TH
Judge blocks federal government from sharing people’s financial data with DOGE
Updated: 12:24 PM EST Feb 8, 2025
On Saturday morning, a judge blocked the federal government from sharing Americans’ personal and financial data with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).The temporary restraining order comes after North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and 18 other attorneys general filed a lawsuit over potential exposure of people’s financial data with DOGE on Friday.”This is federal overreach that puts millions of Americans at risk by exposing confidential financial data without legal justification,” Jackson stated. “For decades, federal protections have been in place for a reason—this policy change violates federal law and threatens people’s privacy and security.” He added, “Now that DOGE is gaining access to the Social Security system, this matter has become even more urgent.”On Feb. 2, the Treasury Department adopted a new policy that grants people associated with DOGE access to its central payment system. The payment system controls vital funding that millions of Americans depend on, including Social Security payments, veterans’ benefits, Medicare and Medicaid payments, and more. The payment system also controls billions of dollars that states rely on to support essential services like law enforcement, public education, and infrastructure repairs. Federal law limits access to the system to Treasury Department employees with a legitimate need for access. On Friday, Attorney General Jackson asked the court for an injunction to prevent DOGE’s access to people’s financial data and Social Security information. After the judge placed the temporary restraining order, Jackson released the following statement:”The court recognized this federal overreach for what it is – a violation of federal law and a threat to people’s privacy and security. It is critical that government spending is transparent and taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently, but this process has clearly been against the law. For now, DOGE can’t access the treasury system and the data it holds – including Social Security numbers. We’re going to keep fighting this case to uphold the longstanding federal protections of Americans’ confidential financial data.””The court noted its “firm assessment” that the federal government’s actions risk “the disclosure of sensitive and confidential information and the heightened risk that the systems in question will be more vulnerable than before to hacking.” “In addition to blocking access for people who are not Treasury Department employees, the order also requires anyone who is a political appointee, special government employee, or non-Treasury employee to destroy all material they’ve already downloaded from the central banking system.”Attorney General Jackson was joined in filing the lawsuit by the Attorneys General of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
On Saturday morning, a judge blocked the federal government from sharing Americans’ personal and financial data with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The temporary restraining order comes after North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and 18 other attorneys general filed a lawsuit over potential exposure of people’s financial data with DOGE on Friday.
“This is federal overreach that puts millions of Americans at risk by exposing confidential financial data without legal justification,” Jackson stated. “For decades, federal protections have been in place for a reason—this policy change violates federal law and threatens people’s privacy and security.”
He added, “Now that DOGE is gaining access to the Social Security system, this matter has become even more urgent.”
On Feb. 2, the Treasury Department adopted a new policy that grants people associated with DOGE access to its central payment system. The payment system controls vital funding that millions of Americans depend on, including Social Security payments, veterans’ benefits, Medicare and Medicaid payments, and more. The payment system also controls billions of dollars that states rely on to support essential services like law enforcement, public education, and infrastructure repairs. Federal law limits access to the system to Treasury Department employees with a legitimate need for access.
On Friday, Attorney General Jackson asked the court for an injunction to prevent DOGE’s access to people’s financial data and Social Security information.
After the judge placed the temporary restraining order, Jackson released the following statement:
“The court recognized this federal overreach for what it is – a violation of federal law and a threat to people’s privacy and security. It is critical that government spending is transparent and taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently, but this process has clearly been against the law. For now, DOGE can’t access the treasury system and the data it holds – including Social Security numbers. We’re going to keep fighting this case to uphold the longstanding federal protections of Americans’ confidential financial data.”
“The court noted its “firm assessment” that the federal government’s actions risk “the disclosure of sensitive and confidential information and the heightened risk that the systems in question will be more vulnerable than before to hacking.”
“In addition to blocking access for people who are not Treasury Department employees, the order also requires anyone who is a political appointee, special government employee, or non-Treasury employee to destroy all material they’ve already downloaded from the central banking system.”
Attorney General Jackson was joined in filing the lawsuit by the Attorneys General of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
