A federal judge has ruled that a representative of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) must answer questions under oath regarding the agency’s leadership structure and access to sensitive government data systems. This decision comes in response to a case brought by labor unions and other groups seeking to halt DOGE’s access to sensitive data at various government agencies.
Senior US District Judge John Bates granted a request for “limited expedited discovery,” allowing for four government officials to be questioned under oath for a total of 8 hours. These officials include a representative from DOGE, as well as one representative each from the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
During the questioning, the attorneys will focus on three main topics outlined by the plaintiffs in an earlier court filing. These topics include the “mission, responsibilities, leadership structure, and decision-making structure of DOGE,” as well as the “scope of authority DOGE possesses with regard to the federal agencies involved in the lawsuit” and the “role and responsibilities of all DOGE employees” working at these agencies, particularly their access to and use of sensitive data systems.
The discovery order is significant as it sheds light on the inner workings of DOGE, an agency that has been making substantial changes within the federal government. The Trump administration attorneys have provided limited information about DOGE since its inception, leading to multiple legal challenges.
