Judge Rejects Dem-Led Effort to Block DOGE

THE NEWS

A federal judge rejected an urgent attempt by 14 states to bar Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing federal data systems and firing agency staff.

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan ruled the plaintiffs failed to prove “imminent, irreparable harm” in Musk’s role overseeing DOGE’s sweeping government cuts.

The decision deals a legal victory to the Trump administration, which has defended Musk’s status as a mere advisor rather than a formal government official requiring Senate confirmation.

TIMELINE

• Last Week: New Mexico and 13 other Democratic-led states file suit against Musk and DOGE, seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO).

• Monday: The White House clarifies Musk’s role as a “non-career Special Government Employee,” disputing claims he leads DOGE.

• Tuesday (Court Decision):
  

• Judge Chutkan denies the TRO, citing insufficient evidence of “imminent, irreparable harm.”

• Plaintiffs are invited to propose a briefing schedule if they wish to pursue a preliminary injunction.

REACTIONS

• Judge Tanya Chutkan (US District Court): Emphasizes the need for “clear evidence” of harm and questions the plaintiffs’ broad request to halt DOGE’s access to sensitive systems.

• Elon Musk (DOGE Advisor): On X (formerly Twitter), defends DOGE’s mission: “We just want to fix waste and fraud… The scrutiny on me is extreme, so it’s not like I could ‘get away’ with something.”

• New Mexico AG Raul Torez (Lead Plaintiff): Warns that DOGE plans mass firings at critical civil rights and anti-discrimination offices across multiple federal agencies.

WHAT’S NEXT

Chutkan on Tuesday ordered the parties in the lawsuit to confer regarding further proceedings. She said that if the plaintiffs want to request a preliminary injunction, they should file a proposed briefing schedule by 5 p.m. on Wednesday.