Judge Requires Musk, DOGE To Provide Answers on Cost-Cutting Plans

Elon Musk has been ordered to unveil his government-cutting plans as a federal judge orders his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to comply with transparency laws and disclose its operations.

Quick Takes

Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan has ordered Elon Musk and DOGE to release documents detailing plans to downsize federal agencies within three weeks.
The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by 14 Democratic state attorneys general claiming Musk wields unconstitutional power.
DOGE has reportedly terminated government employees, dismantled USAid, and granted outsiders access to sensitive databases.
The court rejected the Trump administration’s attempts to exempt DOGE from transparency requirements.
A different judge has ordered the administration to reinstate thousands of probationary workers who were previously fired.
President Trump is not required to respond to the questions or document demands.

Judge Orders Transparency from Musk’s Government Efficiency Department

A federal judge has ruled that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) must comply with transparency laws and release internal documents detailing plans to reduce the size of federal agencies. The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by 14 Democratic state attorneys general against President Donald Trump, Musk, and DOGE. This marks the first time Musk has been ordered to produce documents in a legal challenge against his efforts to reshape the federal bureaucracy, with Judge Tanya Chutkan giving DOGE three weeks to comply with discovery requests.

This comes shortly after another judge ordered the release of some records in response to multiple Freedom of Information Act requests. In that case, DOGE, which replaced the White House’s US Digital Service, was found by the court to exercise “substantial independent authority” within the government. District Judge Christopher Cooper rejected the Trump administration’s attempts to exempt DOGE from the Freedom of Information Act, criticizing inconsistent legal positions that treated DOGE as “a Goldilocks entity – not an agency when it is burdensome but an agency when it is convenient.” The order specifically requires the production of documents related to reducing federal agencies, terminating employees, and altering federal contracts.

Judge orders DOGE and Elon Musk to turn over documents, answer written questions https://t.co/LRtuOVfiTO

— POLITICO (@politico) March 13, 2025

Scope of Musk’s Authority Under Scrutiny

Judge Chutkan’s order aims to identify DOGE officials embedded throughout the government and clarify the scope of DOGE’s and Musk’s authority. The ruling requires Musk to admit that he has directed DOGE personnel and is only supervised by the President of the United States.

According to reports, DOGE has already made significant changes within the federal government, including terminating employees, dismantling USAid, and granting outsiders access to sensitive databases. Musk has indicated that federal benefit programs, including social security, could be targeted for cuts due to what he claims is significant waste. These actions have prompted legal challenges from government watchdog groups and state attorneys general concerned about the constitutional implications of Musk’s authority.

On Thursday, another judge ruled that the Trump administration must hire back thousands of probationary workers from six agencies who were fired amid DOGE’s efforts.

Limited Scope of Court Order Balances Government Interests

Judge Chutkan’s order was carefully tailored to minimize the burden on the executive branch while obtaining necessary information. Judge Chutkan denied requests for sworn testimony and explicitly exempted President Trump from the questions and document demands. The court limited the scope and time period of the requests and excluded electronic communications, balancing the need for transparency with governmental efficiency.