President Donald Trump, serving his second term as President of the United States, has filed a sweeping $10 billion lawsuit against the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), accusing the agencies of failing to safeguard his confidential tax records. The suit stems from the unauthorized disclosure of Trump’s tax returns to media organizations between 2019 and 2020, a breach the plaintiffs say caused lasting reputational and financial harm.
Filed on Thursday in a federal court in Miami, the lawsuit also includes Trump’s adult sons—Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump—as well as the Trump Organization. At the heart of the complaint is the claim that federal agencies neglected mandatory protections, allowing a former contractor to leak sensitive information to what the filing describes as “leftist media outlets,” including The New York Times and ProPublica.
Allegations of Institutional Failure
According to the complaint, the Treasury Department and the IRS failed to enforce strict safeguards designed to protect taxpayer confidentiality. The plaintiffs argue that these lapses directly enabled former IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn to access and distribute private tax information without authorization.
The lawsuit asserts that the agencies either acted with willful disregard for their obligations or demonstrated gross negligence. As a result, Trump and the other plaintiffs claim they were exposed to public scrutiny that went beyond legitimate reporting and crossed into unfair and damaging territory.
The filing states that the harm suffered was “significant and irreparable,” affecting not only personal reputations but also business interests associated with the Trump Organization.
The Role of Charles Littlejohn
Central to the case is Charles Littlejohn, a former IRS contractor who was charged by federal prosecutors in September 2023. Authorities alleged that Littlejohn unlawfully disclosed tax records belonging to Trump and thousands of other wealthy Americans.
Prosecutors said Littlejohn was motivated by a political agenda and knowingly violated federal law. He pleaded guilty in October 2023 to unauthorized disclosure of tax return information.
In January 2024, Littlejohn was sentenced to five years in prison, marking one of the most significant criminal penalties ever imposed for a breach of taxpayer confidentiality.
Media Coverage and Claimed Damages
The lawsuit details the extent of the media reporting that followed the leaks. According to the plaintiffs, The New York Times published at least eight articles based on the disclosed records, while ProPublica produced more than 50 reports drawing from the same source.
Trump and the co-plaintiffs argue that this coverage caused public embarrassment, distorted perceptions of their business practices, and unfairly portrayed them in a negative light. The complaint alleges that the reporting damaged President Trump’s public standing and undermined confidence in his business operations.
The plaintiffs contend that these consequences were foreseeable and should have been prevented through proper agency oversight.
An Unusual Legal Position for a Sitting President
The lawsuit places President Trump in the rare position of suing federal agencies that operate within the executive branch he currently leads. The IRS functions under the Treasury Department, both of which ultimately answer to the president.
Notably, Treasury Secretary and Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent is not named as a defendant. Neither the Treasury Department nor the IRS issued an immediate response to requests for comment following the filing of the lawsuit.
Legal experts note that while unusual, such suits are not prohibited, particularly when they involve alleged actions taken prior to a president’s current term.
A Broader Pattern of Litigation by President Trump
Since winning a second White House term in 2024, President Trump has continued an aggressive legal strategy aimed at challenging media organizations and institutions he believes have wronged him. The lawsuit against the Treasury Department and IRS adds to a growing list of high-value claims.
Trump is currently seeking $15 billion from The New York Times and Penguin Random House over reporting and a book he says were intended to undermine his 2024 election prospects. He is also pursuing separate $10 billion lawsuits against The Wall Street Journal over an article referencing a birthday greeting linked to Jeffrey Epstein, and against the BBC over its editing of a speech preceding the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
All of these cases, including the latest filing, have been handled or assisted by Florida-based attorney Alejandro Brito, who did not respond to requests for comment after business hours.
Legal and Political Implications Ahead
The lawsuit raises broader questions about the government’s responsibility to protect taxpayer data and the consequences of institutional failures. While the criminal case against Littlejohn has concluded, the civil litigation could force a closer examination of internal security practices within federal tax agencies.
If successful, the suit could set a precedent for how damages are assessed in cases involving unauthorized disclosures of confidential government-held information. It may also intensify scrutiny of how sensitive data is accessed and monitored within federal systems.
For now, the case adds another complex legal chapter to President Trump’s second term, intersecting issues of governance, accountability, and the boundaries between state power and individual rights.
