Judge Orders Trump’s Secretive Downsizing Team to Release Records

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration's government-downsizing team, led by Elon Musk, to disclose operational records. The court ruled that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) must adhere to the Freedom of Information Act, challenging the team's current secretive practices and granting a win to transparency advocates.

In a landmark decision, a federal judge has mandated the Trump administration's government-downsizing task force, backed by billionaire Elon Musk, to publicly disclose records about its operations. The team, known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was criticized for its "unusual secrecy" as it conducted mass federal workforce reductions.

The ruling signifies a crucial win for transparency advocates, particularly the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which argued that DOGE functions under substantial independent authority. The Trump administration's stance that DOGE is part of the Executive Office and exempt from freedom of information laws was dismissed.

The judge stressed the urgency of the disclosure, citing DOGE's scope to reshape federal programs as "unprecedented." He outlined a schedule for expedited document release and emphasized the importance of preserving federal records amid potential non-compliance risks.

(With inputs from agencies.)