US District Judge Tanya Chutkan presided over a hearing on Friday regarding a lawsuit filed by Democratic state attorneys general seeking to temporarily block Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing federal data systems. The lawsuit argues that Musk's government role violates the Constitution's Appointments Clause, which requires Senate confirmation for appointed officials.
During the hearing, Judge Chutkan expressed skepticism about granting a broad temporary restraining order that could potentially disrupt government operations. She questioned the necessity of such an order and asked the states to demonstrate how they would suffer irreparable harm if Musk and DOGE were not immediately blocked from making significant changes to federal operations.
While hesitant to issue a sweeping order, Judge Chutkan appeared open to considering a more limited request that would prevent Musk and DOGE from accessing federal data systems across executive branch agencies. She requested the states to submit a proposed order outlining these restrictions by Saturday evening.
The lawsuit reflects ongoing legal challenges to Musk's involvement in government affairs and raises questions about the extent of his authority to influence federal operations. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the future of Musk's role in the government and the limits of executive power.
