A federal judge has extended a temporary block on Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team, preventing access to the U.S. Treasury Department's payment systems. Concurrently, another judge has granted Musk's DOGE staffers access to records at the Departments of Health, Labor, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The DOGE, spearheaded by Musk as part of former President Donald Trump's initiative to streamline government operations, has been actively identifying and eliminating wasteful spending across federal agencies. This move included significant job cuts announced on Friday.
U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan maintained the restriction on DOGE's access to Treasury systems, which handle trillions in payments. She deferred a decision on a longer-term injunction requested by 19 Democratic state attorneys general, who argue that Musk's team lacks the legal authority to access sensitive payment data that could jeopardize funding for essential services such as health clinics and preschools.
This case is among over 20 related lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's efforts to reduce government size, with around 70 cases filed in total. Many of these initiatives, including those targeting birthright citizenship and funding for transgender health treatments, have faced judicial blocks.
In Washington, U.S. District Judge John Bates allowed DOGE's access to Labor and Health departments, citing DOGE as an agency capable of detailing its staff to other government entities. Bates described DOGE as a \"Goldilocks entity: not an agency when it is burdensome but an agency when it is convenient.\" and requested a schedule to decide on a potential longer-term injunction.
Meanwhile, a federal judge in Washington declined requests to block DOGE's access to Department of Education systems, emphasizing the need to balance government efficiency with privacy and administrative laws. The Trump administration maintains that DOGE's access is vital for reducing waste, fraud, and abuse in student loan programs.
Elon Musk has publicly praised the court's ruling on his social media platform, calling it a \"HUGE win!\" in response to the temporary access restrictions.
Reference(s):
U.S. judges bar Musk's DOGE from Treasury, allow access to labor
cgtn.com
