A U.S. District Judge said on Monday she hopes to deliver a decision within 24 hours on a case that seeks to limit Elon Musk’s DOGE team from accessing key government systems. The case, filed by 13 Democratic state attorneys general, argues that Musk’s efforts to overhaul government programs could disrupt operations at major federal agencies.
Judge Tanya Chutkan, based in Washington, D.C., heard arguments on Presidents Day, a federal holiday, regarding an emergency request to block Musk’s team from interacting with systems at seven federal departments. These include Labor, Education, Health and Human Services, Energy, Transportation, Commerce, and the Office of Personnel Management. The states argue that Musk’s actions risk dismantling vital programs, particularly in education, and could lead to mass layoffs.
“The concerns I’m hearing are troubling,” Judge Chutkan acknowledged. However, she questioned whether the states had met the legal threshold for immediate harm needed to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO). She noted that if the states prevail, she could later order the restoration of any disrupted programs.
The attorneys general argue that Musk’s team, known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has already begun sweeping changes, including firing employees and dismantling initiatives. They want the judge to block Musk and his team from accessing government data and making additional staff changes.
A government attorney informed the judge that he could not confirm whether the mass layoffs had taken place as reported on Friday. “The firing of thousands of federal employees is not a small or common thing. You haven’t been able to confirm that?” Judge Chutkan responded. The attorney promised to provide an update later that day.
The lawsuit claims that Musk’s actions are unconstitutional, arguing that he wields power typically granted only to government officials nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Additionally, the states contend that DOGE’s operations lack congressional approval.
Around 20 lawsuits challenging Musk’s authority have been filed in federal courts, producing varied outcomes. In New York, Judge Jeannette Vargas recently extended a temporary block on DOGE, preventing Musk’s team from accessing Treasury systems that manage trillions of dollars in payments.
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