Judge Orders DOGE Officials to Testify in Lawsuit

U.S. District Judge John Bates has ordered officials from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, to testify under oath in a lawsuit filed by labor unions against the Trump administration. The unions, including the AFL-CIO, seek to block DOGE's access to sensitive federal data, alleging potential violations of the Privacy Act. The judge permitted limited depositions totaling eight hours, allowing plaintiffs to explore DOGE's structure and authority, which remain unclear. Despite objections from the Justice Department, Bates emphasized the relevance of these depositions in determining whether DOGE employees are authorized to access such data. Bates noted the necessity of factual exploration through sworn testimonies, as the current submissions from the defendants have been conflicting. This case is part of over 85 lawsuits challenging DOGE's authority and operations.