$DOGE
Federal Judge Allows States' Lawsuit Against Elon Musk Over Government Restructuring Role
A federal judge has allowed a coalition of 14 states to proceed with a lawsuit against Elon Musk, challenging his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting initiative under President Donald Trump. The suit, filed in Washington, D.C., argues that Musk’s actions were unlawful and lacked proper legal authorization.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan denied the Trump administration’s motion to dismiss the case. However, she ruled that President Trump cannot be personally sued due to constitutional protections of the executive office. The court concluded that the plaintiffs had presented a “plausible” claim that Musk’s role exceeded lawful boundaries.
The case, initiated in February by the attorneys general of New Mexico, Oregon, and 12 other states, alleges that Musk was granted sweeping authority to restructure federal agencies without Senate confirmation. The complaint states that DOGE, co-founded and led by Musk, shut down departments and eliminated thousands of jobs without congressional oversight.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield emphasized the constitutional requirement for Senate approval of individuals exercising substantial federal authority. “The court is right: the Constitution says Musk can’t run the federal government unless the Senate confirms him,” Rayfield stated.
Musk’s close ties to the Trump administration have reportedly damaged his corporate image. Marketing expert Scott Galloway called his involvement in DOGE “one of the greatest brand destructions ever,” citing Tesla’s reputation decline and plunging sales across Europe.
In April, Tesla reported a 71% drop in profits. Musk later announced plans to reduce his involvement with DOGE starting in May, stating the initiative’s core goals had largely been met.
