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A U.S. judge has rejected an emergency request to temporarily prevent Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from firing federal employees and accessing government agency data, marking a victory for President Donald Trump’s administration in its efforts to reduce the federal workforce.
Fourteen Democratic-led states had filed a lawsuit challenging Musk’s legal authority, but District Judge Tanya Chutkan denied their request for a temporary restraining order.
“Plaintiffs have not carried their burden of showing that they will suffer imminent, irreparable harm absent a temporary restraining order,” Chutkan ruled.
DOGE, an agency overseen by Musk, has aggressively pursued government cost-cutting measures, resulting in the closure of federal agencies and widespread layoffs. Musk, a major Trump donor, has taken on a key role in the administration, spearheading efforts to cut hundreds of billions of dollars in government spending.
The states argued that Musk and DOGE lacked statutory authority for their actions, noting that Musk had not been formally nominated or confirmed by the Senate. They accused him of wielding “virtually unchecked power” over government operations, including expenditures, contracts, regulations, and the dissolution of federal agencies. Additionally, concerns were raised about DOGE’s access to sensitive government data and technological infrastructure.
The lawsuit sought to block DOGE from accessing data from key federal departments—including Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Energy, Transportation, and Commerce—as well as from terminating employees in those agencies.
In her ruling, Chutkan acknowledged the concerns raised by DOGE’s actions but stated that “the possibility that Defendants may take actions that irreparably harm Plaintiffs is not enough” to justify halting Musk’s efforts.
Musk’s sweeping cost-cutting initiatives have sparked legal battles nationwide. Last week, another federal judge lifted a temporary freeze on a mass buyout program initiated by Musk, which offered government employees eight months’ pay to leave voluntarily. According to the White House, over 75,000 employees have accepted the buyout offer.
Trump’s executive actions continue to face legal challenges, with critics accusing the administration of overreach. The White House, however, has pushed back, arguing that “judges in liberal districts” are attempting to obstruct the president’s agenda.
Chutkan, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, previously presided over the now-dismissed case against Trump related to allegations of election interference in 2020.
