Federal Judge Drops Bombshell in Case Against DOGE
Judge Challenges Lawsuit Targeting DOGE
A federal judge raised concerns Monday about the efforts to block actions by President Donald Trump’s administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) aimed at accessing federal data and making significant cuts to the government workforce.
BREAKING: Infamous Judge Tanya Chutkan, who oversaw Donald Trump's "election interference" case, blocks Democrat state attorneys general attempts to shut down DOGE.
Did you see this coming? pic.twitter.com/TdqPKayQMk— Resist the Mainstream (@ResisttheMS) February 17, 2025
Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is presiding over the case and also previously oversaw Trump’s “election interference” case, questioned whether the plaintiffs—a coalition of 14 states—could prove that they would suffer immediate harm from these actions. The case, which could have broad implications for the future of government operations under Musk and Trump’s influence, is awaiting a ruling, which the judge could issue within the next 24 hours.
The lawsuit, filed by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, on behalf of the coalition, seeks to halt further federal layoffs recommended by Musk and DOGE, according to Fox News.
The case focuses on DOGE’s activities across seven federal agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Energy, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Commerce.
The states contend that Musk’s involvement with the federal workforce violates the U.S. Constitution, particularly the Appointments Clause, which requires that individuals holding “principal officer” positions be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, as reported by ABC News.
The lawsuit also accuses Musk of committing an “illegal executive overreach,” arguing that his influence over federal decisions exceeds the authority granted to him by law.
However, during the hearing, Chutkan expressed skepticism about the lawsuit’s foundation. She told state attorneys that they had failed to provide clear evidence of “imminent harm” that could justify issuing a restraining order.
While the lawsuit argues that “there is no greater threat to democracy than the accumulation of state power in the hands of a single, unelected individual,” Chutkan remained unconvinced that the plaintiffs had sufficiently demonstrated harm.
“The things that I’m hearing are serious and troubling indeed… But you’re saying these are things that we’re hearing,” Chutkan said, adding that she had not yet seen conclusive proof of harm.
Despite her skepticism, Chutkan did not dismiss the case outright. She acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but questioned whether the states’ claims met the high threshold required for a restraining order. She explained that a restraining order could only be issued if there was evidence of “extreme” and “imminent harm” that could not be undone.
Throughout the hearing, Chutkan raised concerns over the lack of detailed information provided by the Department of Justice about DOGE’s activities. Lawyers for Trump’s administration and Musk’s team failed to present a clear picture of how widespread the layoffs have been.
“The firing of thousands of federal employees is not a small or common thing. You haven’t been able to confirm that?” Chutkan questioned the DOJ lawyers.
The states involved in the lawsuit—New Mexico, Arizona, Michigan, Maryland, Minnesota, California, Nevada, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii—seek to prevent further federal firings. However, Chutkan’s questions about the lack of clear evidence of harm suggest she may deny the request for a restraining order.
The judge has not made a final ruling but has indicated that she may decide within 24 hours. If she denies the restraining order, Musk and DOGE’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce and reshape government operations could continue with minimal oversight.
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