By LINDSAY WHITEHURST
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal choose declined Tuesday to instantly block billionaire Elon Musk and the Division of Authorities Effectivity from accessing authorities information techniques or collaborating in employee layoffs.
U.S. District Decide Tanya Chutkan discovered that there are reliable questions on Musk’s authority, however mentioned there isn’t proof of the form of grave authorized hurt that might justify a brief restraining order.
The choice got here in a lawsuit filed by 14 states difficult DOGE’s authority to entry delicate authorities information. The attorneys normal argued that actions taken by Musk on the helm of DOGE can solely be taken by a nominated and Senate-confirmed official below the Structure.
The Trump administration has maintained that Musk doesn’t have authority of his personal and layoffs are coming from company heads.
Musk’s crew has tapped into laptop techniques throughout a number of companies with the blessing of President Donald Trump, digging into budgets and trying to find what he calls waste, fraud and abuse, at the same time as a rising variety of lawsuits allege DOGE is violating the regulation.
Initially Printed: February 18, 2025 at 5:05 PM EST
