Democrats Sue Musk Over DOGE’s Federal Data Access

Democrats are unhappy with Musk and DOGE’s access to federal data, calling him an “agent of chaos” and filing a lawsuit. They argue that he holds unchecked authority without proper supervision.

The Trump administration claims Musk’s power is overstated. Both Trump and Musk have stated he reduced federal agency work through DOGE. Trump described Musk as a “successful guy” during a recent press conference, advocating for his role.

According to court documents, Joshua Fisher, Office of Administration Director, clarified that Musk is a non-career special government employee (SGE) in the White House office, distinct from the US DOGE service. Fisher confirmed Musk does not work for the US DOGE service and isn’t its administrator.

DOJ lawyers asserted Musk lacks formal authority to make government decisions, with no evidence supporting any such power.

Federal Judge Denies Democratic Request

Judge Tanya Chutkan rejected a temporary restraining order request to block Musk and DOGE from accessing federal data, stating she has distrust in the Trump government’s statements about their powers. Democratic attorneys aimed to prevent Musk from terminating or placing employees on involuntary leave but failed to prove immediate harm.

Judge Chutkan acknowledged the uncertainty caused by DOGE’s actions but deemed the Democrats’ claims insufficient for emergency action. She noted a credible Appointments Clause claim against Musk since he wasn’t nominated by the President or confirmed by the Senate.

Ongoing Lawsuits

Several lawsuits are pending against the administration for privacy law breaches by allowing DOGE personnel to access restricted government IT systems. Musk and DOGE’s controversial actions have raised concerns, including unauthorized access to Medicare, Medicaid data, and using AI on sensitive information.

Trump’s executive actions have mostly gone unchallenged, with significant moves like withdrawing from the World Health Organization and imposing tariffs on China without legal contest.

These actions create a politically charged atmosphere as the implications of Musk’s role and DOGE’s operations continue to unfold.