D.O.G.E Slapped with More Lawsuits Since Trump’s Inaugauration

Within minutes of Donald Trump taking the oath of office, multiple lawsuits were filed in federal court in Washington, aiming to halt Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E) until it complies with transparency regulations governing federal advisory bodies.

Established by Trump via executive order, D.O.G.E is facing allegations that it violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) by allowing private individuals to influence government decisions without the required public oversight.

Since Inauguration Day, D.O.G.E has been inundated with legal challenges.

On 20 January, the nonprofit law firm National Security Counselors sued the agency for allegedly breaching FACA’s transparency requirements.

Additional lawsuits have been filed by the State Democracy Defenders Fund, Democracy Forward, and Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group.

Norm Eisen, a co-founder of State Democracy Defenders Action, said:

“The battle to defend democracy will be not only fought in the court of law but also in the court of public opinion. and our colleagues at Public Citizen and AFGE wanted to make the point that not only do we have a powerful lawsuit … based on their partisan exclusion of members but also that we were unafraid to take action against the autocratic moves of the incoming president.”

The Center for Biological Diversity has also taken legal action, seeking records from the Office of Management and Budget related to D.O.G.E’s operations.

Critics argue that D.O.G.E’s classification as a government department lacks the necessary congressional approval.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, alongside organisations such as the American Public Health Association, the American Federation of Teachers, and Minority Veterans of America, have joined the legal battle, further intensifying scrutiny of the controversial agency.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics said:

“The lawsuit seeks a ruling that the establishment of DOGE is unlawful, and for the court to force DOGE to comply with the transparency, ethics, records retention and equal representation required under FACA. Currently, DOGE is operating unchecked, without authorization or funding from Congress and is led by unelected billionaires who are not representative of ordinary Americans.”

D.O.G.E in Troubled Waters

During his presidential campaign, Trump suggested appointing Musk to his cabinet—a notion that gained traction after securing the nomination.

Trump later confirmed that Musk, alongside former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, would lead the newly established D.O.G.E.

However, Ramaswamy abruptly stepped down on Inauguration Day, reportedly to focus on his Ohio gubernatorial campaign.

Spearheaded by Musk, D.O.G.E aims to overhaul outdated government systems and eliminate inefficiencies within federal agencies.

The department has set an ambitious target of reducing federal expenditures by up to $2 trillion by 2026.

But with the recent departure of Ramaswamy, Musk stands as the sole remaining member.

As lawsuits continue to mount, the pressing question remains—can Musk navigate the growing legal pressures and keep D.O.G.E afloat?