Lawmakers Move to Impeach Judges Restricting Treasury Access for Fraud Investigation

Rep. Eli Crane leads efforts to impeach Judge Paul Engelmayer over his ruling blocking DOGE's access to Treasury systems, citing judicial overreach.

Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) is drafting articles of impeachment against Judge Paul Engelmayer for issuing a restraining order that restricts the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing Treasury payment systems.
The restraining order was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by 19 Democratic state attorneys general, who argued that DOGE's actions risked sensitive data exposure and violated federal laws.
Judge Engelmayer's ruling temporarily prohibits non-Treasury employees, including DOGE officials, from accessing Treasury systems and mandates the destruction of downloaded data since January 20.
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) is drafting separate articles of impeachment against Judge John McConnell for blocking a Trump administration spending freeze in a related case involving Democratic states.
Critics, including DOGE director Elon Musk and White House officials, accuse the judges of judicial overreach and obstructing efforts to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs.