Elon Musk's DOGE ordered to disclose records on cost-cutting measures
What's the story
A US federal judge has ordered Elon Musk's 'Department of Government Efficiency' (DOGE) to reveal a broad array of records.
Judge Tanya Chutkan's order includes the potential identification of staffers and internal documents related to efforts to drastically cut federal government spending and programs.
This ruling is part of a lawsuit filed by 14 Democratic state attorneys general, who claim that Musk has been operating unconstitutionally.
Legal proceedings
Judge Tanya Chutkan's ruling and its implications
In her 14-page ruling, US District Judge Chutkan has permitted state attorneys general to get documents from Musk.
The idea is to clarify how far his authority goes and whether he has been operating unconstitutionally. This could potentially stop DOGE's activities if deemed necessary.
The judge also hinted these requests could include identifying DOGE staffers to get the full picture of the operation.
Project details
Musk's role and the controversy surrounding DOGE
As a "special government employee," Musk has attempted to keep DOGE's workings under the radar.
The White House said this designation means his financial disclosure filing won't be made public.
However, the White House later clarified in court filings that Musk was a senior adviser to the President, which contradicts public statements about his role and raises questions about his actual authority.
The crux of this lawsuit is a constitutional provision regarding powers held by department heads.
Information access
DOGE's unprecedented authority and secrecy
Another federal judge, Christopher Cooper, ruled that DOGE is so powerful that its documents will probably have to be subject to public records requests.
This was in response to requests by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) for records related to DOGE's operations.
The ruling means that DOGE must disclose emails, memos, notes, etc., about its operations, staff, and structure.
Judicial insights
Judge Cooper's remarks on DOGE's operations
Judge Cooper emphasized that DOGE has been credited with deep cuts to federal spending, has access to sensitive agency records, and its authority is apparent from public statements by Donald Trump and Musk.
He cited a social media post by Musk where he bragged about his role in the project.
The judge wrote, "DOGE appears to have the power not just to evaluate federal programs but to drastically reshape and even eliminate them wholesale."