Overview

• U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan found that 14 states plausibly alleged Elon Musk’s cost-cutting activities exceed legal authority and cleared their February lawsuit against Musk and DOGE while dismissing claims against President Trump.
• Judge Jeannette Vargas lifted an earlier ban on DOGE’s entry to the Treasury Department’s payment systems after deeming required training and security clearances sufficient to protect sensitive data.
• Chutkan ruled that Musk occupies a “continuing and permanent” executive position, rejecting the White House’s characterization of his role as purely advisory and temporary.
• DOGE has penetrated multiple sensitive federal databases, including those of the IRS and Social Security Administration, sparking roughly 20 lawsuits over alleged unauthorized data access and agency restructuring.
• Legal analysts say the unfolding decisions may set precedents on the limits of executive appointments and the privacy safeguards for nontraditional federal appointees.