- A federal judge refuses to immediately block Elon Musk and DOGE from accessing government data or Firing Workers.DOGE
- The decision came in a lawsuit filed by 14 Democratic states challenging DOGE’s authority to access sensitive government data.
- Chutkan recognized the concerns of the group of states, which include New Mexico and Arizona.
A U.S. judge has turned down a request to temporarily prevent Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from dismissing federal employees and accessing agency data, marking a victory for President Donald Trump in his push to shrink the government workforce.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan acknowledged that there are valid questions regarding Musk’s authority, but stated that there is no evidence of the serious legal harm that would warrant a temporary restraining order.
Fourteen states led by Democrats had filed a lawsuit challenging Musk’s legal authority, but Judge Chutkan rejected their emergency request to halt his actions.
The states contended that Musk, who the White House has classified as a special government employee, possesses unchecked power and is infringing upon the Constitution’s Appointments Clause.
The attorneys general argued that Musk is exercising authority that the Constitution reserves for those who are elected or confirmed by the Senate.
The Trump administration has argued that any layoffs are being initiated by agency heads and claimed that, despite Musk’s public support for the initiative, he is not directly managing DOGE’s daily operations.
The Justice Department contended that the states have not demonstrated any imminent, irreparable harm that would justify the court’s involvement.
Justice Department lawyers stated in a court filing that the states’ assertion that Musk has the authority to make governmental decisions is “incorrect” and “is based solely on confusing influence with authority.”
Chutkan acknowledged the concerns raised by the group of states, which includes New Mexico and Arizona. In her ruling, she noted, “the court is aware that DOGE’s unpredictable actions have led to significant uncertainty and confusion for Plaintiffs and many of their agencies and residents.”
However, at this stage, it remains uncertain how exactly DOGE’s operations will impact the states, and judges can only issue orders to prevent specific, immediate harms, she concluded.
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Last Updated on February 19, 2025 by 247 News Around The World
