Judge halts federal scrutiny of $200 transactions

Federal government recently lowered reporting threshold to $ 200 for cash transactions of $ 10,000 or more.

A federal judge blocked enforcement of the order in California while legal challenges move forward.

A decade ago , the policy change might have been justified in the name of fighting terrorists.

But no matter who government officials claim to be targeting, the burden of compliance always falls on individuals.

Financial surveillance has become increasingly intrusive in recent decades .

Inflation has extended the government's reach by applying what were once high-dollar thresholds for scrutiny to relatively common transactions.

Hopefully, more forceful pushback against financial surveillance will begin with the temporary restraining order in California and its companion in Texas .