A U.S. judge has rejected a request to temporarily block Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from firing federal employees and accessing agency data, handing a victory to President Donald Trump in his effort to reduce the government workforce.
Fourteen Democratic-led states had filed a lawsuit challenging Musk’s legal authority, but District Judge Tanya Chutkan denied their emergency request for a temporary restraining order.
“Plaintiffs have not carried their burden of showing that they will suffer imminent, irreparable harm absent a temporary restraining order,” Chutkan ruled.
DOGE, an agency overseen by Musk, has been aggressively cutting government spending, leading to the closure of some federal agencies and mass layoffs. The billionaire, who is Trump’s largest donor, has taken on a significant role in the administration, spearheading efforts to slash hundreds of billions of dollars in government expenditures.
The states argued in their lawsuit that Musk and DOGE lacked the statutory authority for their actions, noting that Musk had not been formally nominated by the president or confirmed by the Senate. They accused him of wielding “virtually unchecked power” over government operations, including expenditures, contracts, regulations, and even the dismantling of federal agencies. They also raised concerns about DOGE’s access to sensitive government data and technological infrastructure.
The lawsuit sought to prevent DOGE from accessing data from key federal departments, including Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Energy, Transportation, and Commerce, as well as from terminating any of their employees.
In her ruling, Chutkan acknowledged the uncertainty caused by DOGE’s actions but said, “the possibility that Defendants may take actions that irreparably harm Plaintiffs is not enough” to justify blocking Musk’s efforts.
Musk’s sweeping cost-cutting measures have triggered legal battles across the country. Last week, another federal judge lifted a temporary freeze on a mass buyout program that encouraged government workers to leave voluntarily in exchange for eight months’ pay. The buyout, initiated by Musk, was designed to shrink the federal workforce. More than 75,000 employees accepted the offer, according to the White House.
Trump’s executive actions have been met with multiple legal challenges, with critics accusing the administration of overreach. The White House, in turn, has accused “judges in liberal districts” of attempting to obstruct the president’s agenda.
Chutkan, an appointee of former Democratic President Barack Obama, previously presided over the now-dismissed case against Trump related to allegations of election interference in 2020.
