US Judge Rejects Bid to Block Elon Musk from Accessing Data, Firing Federal Workers

A U.S. judge has denied a request to temporarily prevent Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from dismissing federal employees and accessing agency data, marking a win for President Donald Trump’s initiative to downsize the government workforce.

The lawsuit, filed by 14 Democratic-led states, challenged Musk’s legal authority, but District Judge Tanya Chutkan ruled against 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, the agency under Musk’s oversight, has aggressively reduced government spending, resulting in the shutdown of several federal agencies and widespread layoffs. The billionaire, Trump’s largest donor, has played a key role in the administration’s push to cut hundreds of billions from government expenditures.

In their lawsuit, the states argued that Musk and DOGE lacked the legal authority for these actions, pointing out that Musk had neither been formally nominated by the president nor confirmed by the Senate.

They accused him of exercising “virtually unchecked power” over government operations, including spending, contracts, regulations, and even the dismantling of agencies.

The lawsuit also sought to block DOGE from accessing sensitive data from key federal departments—including Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Energy, Transportation, and Commerce—and from terminating any employees within those agencies.

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 aggressive cost-cutting measures have sparked legal battles nationwide. Just last week, another federal judge lifted a temporary freeze on a mass buyout program that offered government employees eight months’ pay to leave voluntarily. The initiative, spearheaded by Musk, aimed to downsize the federal workforce, with over 75,000 employees reportedly accepting the offer, according to the White House.

Trump’s executive actions have faced numerous legal challenges, with critics accusing the administration of exceeding its authority. In response, the White House has pushed back, claiming that “judges in liberal districts” are attempting to obstruct the president’s agenda.

Judge Tanya Chutkan, an Obama-era appointee, previously oversaw the now-dismissed case against Trump related to alleged election interference in 2020.