A federal judge in Washington D.C. has declined to grant a request from 14 attorneys general aimed at blocking Elon Musk’s DOGE from accessing sensitive information across various federal agencies. The ruling, issued by Judge Tanya Chutkan, acknowledged that DOGE’s actions have led to significant confusion but did not warrant an emergency halt.
Judge Chutkan noted that while Musk’s actions could potentially cause harm, the possibility alone does not meet the legal threshold for irreparable harm necessary for emergency injunctive relief. The ruling allows DOGE to continue its operations, which include significant layoffs within the federal workforce.
The judge highlighted that Musk lacks the constitutional authority typically required for such actions, as he has not been nominated or confirmed to any official position. Despite this, she emphasized that the court cannot act solely on media reports regarding potential harm.
The lawsuit, filed by attorneys general from multiple states, outlined concerns about Musk’s influence on federal operations, including mass terminations affecting agencies such as NASA and the FDA. While the ruling leaves the door open for future legal action, it underscores the challenges in reversing decisions that have already led to significant workforce reductions.
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