Judge Allows 14-State Lawsuit Against Musk Over Unconstitutional DOGE Role

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., Tanya Chutkan, ruled that lawsuits filed by 14 states challenging Elon Musk's role and authority in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald Trump can proceed. The lawsuits argue that Musk, who was never Senate-confirmed, wielded unconstitutional power by acting as a de facto principal officer of DOGE, an agency created without congressional authorization, thus violating the Appointments Clause of the Constitution. The judge found that Musk's and DOGE's actions, including dismantling agencies and accessing sensitive government information, exceeded their lawful authority, although she dismissed claims against Trump, citing limitations on courts interfering with presidential duties. Musk has stated he would reduce his involvement with DOGE to focus on his private enterprises, but the judge ruled that this does not negate the constitutional issues raised. While the Justice Department's motion to dismiss was denied, they may seek to appeal given the case's constitutional significance. This decision follows previous legal challenges aimed at blocking Musk and DOGE from accessing government systems and data.