US judges bar Musk's DOGE from Treasury, allow access to health, labor

• Judge extends block on Musk's DOGE accessing Treasury systems
• Democratic attorneys general challenge Musk's legal authority
• Some 70 lawsuits have been filed challenging Trump initiatives
• Most Trump initiatives that have been legally challenged have been blocked by courts
• Trump administration defends DOGE's oversight role in government systems

NEW YORK, Feb 14 (Reuters) - A federal judge extended a block on Elon Musk's government cost-cutting team from accessing payment systems at the U.S. Treasury Department on Friday, while another judge allowed the billionaire's DOGE staffers to access records at health, labor and consumer financial protection agencies.

Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency has swept through federal agencies since Republican Donald Trump became president last month and put the chief executive of carmaker Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab in charge of rooting out wasteful spending as part of Trump's dramatic overhaul of government, which included thousands of job cuts on Friday.

In Manhattan, U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas extended a temporary block on DOGE that was put in place on Saturday, which prevented Musk's team from accessing Treasury systems responsible for trillions of dollars of payments.

The case by the attorneys general is one of at least 20 related to efforts to slash the size of the government. Around 70 lawsuits have been filed challenging Trump initiatives, from ending birthright citizenship to limiting federal funding for transgender health treatments, and many policies have been blocked by courts.

Complete Article

https://www.reuters.com/legal/judges-consider-barring-musks-doge-team-government-systems-2025-02-14/

 

[mattfivefour]

This is thwarting the will of the people! And it needs to be stopped quickly. I am praying that the Supreme Court of the United States is willing to hear the case for the legality and force of executive orders and the right and power of the presidency, quickly.

 

[Cheeky200386]

How is this even possible? I pray this gets resolved asap. I love to see all the corruption and poor spending that is being uncovered.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

 

[Hol]

A second judge ruled the opposite:

• Two federal judges released rulings on Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) attempts to cut government spending. U.S. District Judge John Bates ruled in favor of DOGE accessing sensitive records from three agencies, while U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas maintained a restraining order preventing DOGE from accessing the Treasury Department’s payment system.
• Judge Bates determined that DOGE likely qualifies as an “agency,” allowing it to access sensitive information from the Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
• In contrast, judge Vargas declined to issue a longer-term injunction but kept the restraining order in place.

Musk's DOGE experience win and loss amid legal battles

Two federal judges released their rulings on Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency's latest attempts to cut government spending.

san.com

 

[mattfivefour]

All of these decisions are surely going to wind up being reviewed by the Supreme Court. I pray it is sooner rather than later, so that the agenda of this president and the will of the people can be implemented in as short a time as possible.