A federal judge has denied a final request to prevent Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing government data as part of ongoing cost-cutting audits.Despite not being an official government department, DOGE—led by Musk, the world’s richest man—has been assigned the task of significantly reducing the federal workforce and eliminating unnecessary U.S. tax expenditures.In recent weeks, the advisory body has committed to reducing the U.S. national debt, which currently stands at $36 trillion.It has also terminated multiple federal contracts, canceled Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, and enacted sweeping cuts at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).Several Democratic-led states have united in an effort to hinder these cost-cutting measures, seeking a temporary restraining order.The lawsuit, brought before Congress, aimed to prevent DOGE from accessing government information systems or terminating employees in various departments, including Energy, Transportation, and Commerce. The states also sought to protect workers in the Departments of Labor, the Office of Personnel Management, Health and Human Services, and Education from potential layoffs.Other DOGE actions cited in the suit include “accessing sensitive and confidential agency data” and canceling federal contracts.However, on Tuesday, February 18, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ruled that the mere “possibility” that DOGE could harm the country by accessing data systems or making personnel decisions was “not enough” to justify halting its operations.
.jpg)
DOGE’s cost-cutting efforts are spearheaded by Elon Musk
“The court is aware that DOGE’s unpredictable actions have caused significant uncertainty and confusion for Plaintiffs, as well as many of their agencies and residents,” Chutkan wrote, according to NBC News.“Plaintiffs rightfully question what appears to be the unchecked authority of an unelected individual and an entity that was not established by Congress and over which it has no oversight.“In these circumstances, it must be indisputable that this court acts within the limits of its authority. Accordingly, it cannot issue a TRO—especially one as broad as the Plaintiffs request—without clear evidence of imminent, irreparable harm.”Chutkan noted that the Plaintiffs, led by New Mexico, had not met the “high standard for irreparable injury” and had failed to demonstrate why they were entitled to an immediate restraining order, as reported by Reuters.“The court is aware that DOGE’s unpredictable actions have resulted in considerable uncertainty and confusion for Plaintiffs and many of their agencies and residents,” she reiterated.“When litigants have identified specific individuals or programs imminently targeted by Defendants, courts have issued appropriately tailored [temporary restraining orders].”Following the ruling, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez vowed to continue legal action against Musk and DOGE “for as long as it takes to bring this chaos to an end.”According to the New York Post, Torrez stated that while he was “disappointed” by the court’s decision not to grant a temporary restraining order, he remains committed to fighting what he called Musk’s “unlawful power grab.”
A New Mexico representative hoped to end Musk’s ‘unlawful power grab’ with the lawsuit
“Every day that he is allowed to operate without a congressional mandate and with little apparent supervision, Musk is destabilizing our government and disrupting critical funding for education, public health, and national security,” the specialist stated.“His ‘move fast and break things’ mentality is not only reckless but also unconstitutional, and we are prepared to pursue this case for as long as it takes to bring this chaos to an end.”Following the “final attempt to stop” Musk, Chutkan has directed the Democratic states seeking to block DOGE to submit a proposed briefing schedule by 5 p.m. today (February 19) if they intend to move forward with a preliminary injunction.
