A judge has demanded DOGE show more transparency
A judge has likely thrown a wrench into the workings of DOGE after a new order, while they also deal with 14 different Democratic state attorney generals.
President Donald Trump has enthusiastically praised the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk since his return to the White House. Trump has emphasized that DOGE’s mission is to “tear down government red tape, eliminate unnecessary regulations, cut wasteful spending, and revamp federal agencies.” However, the department’s methods are now under scrutiny, with calls for increased transparency and clarity.
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, appointed by Barack Obama, has ordered DOGE to disclose key information about its operations. This demand for transparency comes amid a legal challenge from 14 Democratic state attorneys general, who are suing Trump, Musk, and DOGE, accusing Musk of wielding unconstitutional influence over government affairs.
Judge Tanya Chutkan’s order primarily centers on identifying who at DOGE is responsible for making cost-cutting decisions and determining the extent of their authority. In her ruling, she stated:
“Defendants argue that the ‘inner workings of government’ are irrelevant to an Appointments Clause claim. The court, however, is not convinced, and considers this a legal matter to be addressed after thorough briefing. At this point, it is sufficient to note that the plaintiffs’ discovery requests aim to uncover the full extent of DOGE’s and Musk’s powers.”
DOGE has been given three weeks to provide the requested information, which Chutkan will use to decide whether or not to suspend DOGE’s operations entirely.
The eight-page court filing includes six key interrogatories, the first of which demands: “Identify every individual who has served as DOGE Administrator or as the functional head of DOGE, including in an acting capacity, since January 20, 2025, and the dates they served in that role.”
As part of the response, DOGE has been instructed to identify all individuals with the authority to hire or terminate personnel since January 20, 2025. This move is expected to shed light on Musk’s role within DOGE, which has remained notably unclear.
Musk himself is designated as a ‘special government employee,’ a classification that the White House has stated will prevent his financial disclosure filing from being made public. Additionally, the White House has confirmed that Musk serves as a senior advisor to the president. He has also been spotted proudly wearing a “Tech Support” t-shirt while collaborating with Trump and his administration, signaling his hands-on involvement.
