Overview

• U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ruled that 14 states may proceed in their lawsuit accusing Musk and DOGE of wielding unauthorized executive power, dismissing claims against President Trump.
• The plaintiffs allege Musk exercises significant authority within DOGE without formal Senate confirmation, raising questions under the Constitution’s Appointments Clause.
• Separately, U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas granted specific DOGE employees conditional access to the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Fiscal Service payment systems after they completed required vetting and training.
• Vargas’s modified injunction allows future DOGE hires to gain system access without additional court approval, provided they meet established security procedures.
• The dual rulings will influence ongoing debates over executive order agencies’ scope and federal privacy protections as multiple challenges against DOGE continue.