Judge Orders Elon Musk and DOGE to Disclose Government Downsizing Plans
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has mandated that Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reveal detailed plans on reducing government size and provide a full list of employees.
In a significant legal development, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has ordered Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to disclose comprehensive plans related to downsizing federal agencies and provide detailed information about all DOGE employees. This ruling comes amidst a lawsuit filed by 14 Democratic state attorneys general against President Donald Trump, Musk, and DOGE, alleging unconstitutional power usage by Musk, according to Politico.
Judge Chutkan has given Musk and DOGE three weeks to comply with the order, which is critical for her decision on whether to potentially halt DOGE’s operations. The required disclosures include all documents related to plans for eliminating or downsizing federal agencies, terminating or placing federal employees on leave, and affecting federal contracts, grants, or other funding.
Additionally, the court demands that Musk and DOGE provide access to documents regarding the use of federal databases and identify every individual working for DOGE. For each employee, specifics such as their titles, agency affiliations, reporting hierarchies, and hiring information must be disclosed.
The order also seeks to confirm Musk’s direct involvement in DOGE’s actions and his lack of supervision by any U.S. officer other than the President. This directive aims to shed light on the extent of Musk’s influence over DOGE’s operations.
The White House has yet to respond to requests for comment on this significant judicial mandate. Judge Chutkan noted that the burden on the defendants is minimized by limiting the scope and time frame of the requested materials and excluding electronic communications and President Trump from the requests.
This ruling marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battle over the operations of DOGE and Musk’s role within the agency, setting the stage for further scrutiny and potential legal challenges.