Legal Battle over Federal Spending: Musk's Contested Role

A U.S. judge orders Elon Musk and Department of Government Efficiency to disclose records related to federal spending cuts. The lawsuit claims Musk exercised power only Senate-confirmed officials should hold. The court demands discovery focusing on cost-cutting authority within DOGE, sparking legal tensions.

A U.S. judge has mandated Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to produce records pertaining to federal budget reductions. The order, issued by District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, D.C., stems from a lawsuit filed by 14 Democratic state attorneys general against Musk, DOGE, and Republican President Donald Trump.

The lawsuit accuses Musk of overstepping constitutional boundaries by wielding powers allocated to Senate-confirmed officials, specifically under the Appointments Clause. Judge Chutkan's directive seeks to clarify the decision-making processes at DOGE regarding cost cuts, crucial to the plaintiffs' discovery requests, expected to delineate the scope of Musk's and DOGE's authority.

Limiting discovery to relevant governmental entities interacting with the 14 states, Chutkan's order excludes former President Trump. This decision underscores the resistance from both Republican and Democratic administrations against obligatory testimony from top White House advisers. Responses are due by April 2, addressing the legal complexities surrounding federal spending oversight.

(With inputs from agencies.)