Economist Files Emergency Legal Action to Halt Unauthorized Access to Federal Payment Systems

WASHINGTON - Feb. 5, 2025 - PRLog -- On February 3, 2025, economist and independent financial analyst William Michael Cunningham filed a public interest lawsuit in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit seeking an emergency injunction to prevent unauthorized political operatives from gaining access to the U.S. Treasury's payment processing systems.

The case, Cunningham v. Bessent and the US Treasury (No. 25-1046), challenges a decision by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to grant access to critical federal financial systems to unelected and unvetted individuals. The lawsuit argues that this unprecedented move jeopardizes the integrity of $6 trillion in annual government payments, including Social Security, Medicare, and federal employee salaries.

Cunningham contends that this decision violates federal administrative, cybersecurity, and financial oversight laws, including:

• The Administrative Procedure Act, by allowing arbitrary and capricious decision-making;
• The Fifth Amendment's Due Process Clause, by exposing federal payment recipients to substantial risk;
• The Anti-Deficiency Act, which prohibits unauthorized influence over federal fund disbursement; and
• The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which restricts unauthorized access to government systems.

"This reckless decision undermines financial stability and exposes the American people to unacceptable risks," said Cunningham. "We cannot allow hyper-partisan operatives to take control of the Treasury's financial systems without transparency or oversight."

The lawsuit also highlights the removal of a senior Treasury official, David A. Lebryk, who refused to authorize the access due to security concerns. Former Treasury officials have called this development unprecedented and dangerous, raising alarms about the potential for financial manipulation and corruption.

Cunningham seeks an immediate court order to revoke access and prevent further partisan interference in federal financial operations. To review the lawsuit, see: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q6xqCnI21lf7Eod-VRnFZydK...