A federal judge recently decided not to stop Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency from using federal data systems. This concerns several executive branch agencies.
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan made this ruling, which is a setback for a group of Democratic state attorneys general. They aim to challenge Musk and his plans for restructuring the federal workforce.
The attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Musk last week. They claim his involvement in government goes against the Constitution’s Appointments Clause. This clause gives presidents the authority to appoint government officials, pending Senate confirmation.
The states had requested that Judge Chutkan temporarily block Musk and DOGE from accessing various government systems. These include the Office of Personnel Management, the Departments of Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Energy, Transportation, and Commerce.
They also wanted the judge to prevent Musk and DOGE from dismissing or placing government employees on involuntary leave.
However, Chutkan noted that the states did not demonstrate they would face immediate harm without the restraining order.
In her 10-page ruling, she acknowledged that DOGE’s unpredictable actions have caused confusion for the states and their agencies. Yet, she stated that it remains unclear when and how the programs the states identified might be affected.
This is an ongoing story, and updates will follow.
