DOGE scores legal win, maintaining access to data from three federal agencies
The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, secured a legal victory on Friday when a federal judge ruled that the agency can access data from the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.Earlier this month, a coalition of labor unions and nonprofit organizations filed a lawsuit to temporarily block the DOGE from accessing the agencies' systems and data. 'There needs to be an immediate wave of judicial impeachments, not just one.'The complaint argued that the DOGE, established by a presidential executive order, is not a legitimate federal agency since it was not formed by Congress and thus should not be allowed access to sensitive government information.However, United States District Judge John Bates disagreed, finding that the plaintiffs failed to show "a substantial likelihood that [the DOGE] is not an agency.""If that is so, [the DOGE] may detail its employees to other agencies consistent with the Economy Act," Bates ordered.Last week, Bates ruled that the plaintiffs also "failed to establish standing" in the case. However, the judge noted that the court "harbors concerns" about the DOGE's access. Musk responded to Bates' Friday ruling in a post on X, writing, "LFG," an acronym for "let's f***ing go."Musk had previously called for Bates' impeachment after the judge ordered several government agencies to restore web pages, including those on gender ideology, that President Donald Trump's administration had taken down."There needs to be an immediate wave of judicial impeachments, not just one," Musk stated.In a separate post, Musk wrote, "Truly absurd. Judges as website editors!? We should at least ATTEMPT to fire this junky jurist. The notion of having a judge job for life, no matter how bad the judgments, is ridiculous! Enough is enough."In another case brought by 10 Democratic attorneys general, U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled on Friday to extend a temporary restraining order blocking the DOGE from accessing Treasury Department records while she reviews a preliminary injunction. Vargas argued there was a "sound factual basis" for the temporary block.Over the weekend, sources told ABC News that the DOGE had requested access to an Internal Revenue Service system.A White House spokesperson told the Washington Post, "Waste, fraud, and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long. It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it. DOGE will continue to shine a light on the fraud they uncover as the American people deserve to know what their government has been spending their hard earned tax dollars on."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, secured a legal victory on Friday when a federal judge ruled that the agency can access data from the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Earlier this month, a coalition of labor unions and nonprofit organizations filed a lawsuit to temporarily block the DOGE from accessing the agencies' systems and data.
'There needs to be an immediate wave of judicial impeachments, not just one.'
The complaint argued that the DOGE, established by a presidential executive order, is not a legitimate federal agency since it was not formed by Congress and thus should not be allowed access to sensitive government information.
However, United States District Judge John Bates disagreed, finding that the plaintiffs failed to show "a substantial likelihood that [the DOGE] is not an agency."
"If that is so, [the DOGE] may detail its employees to other agencies consistent with the Economy Act," Bates ordered.
Last week, Bates ruled that the plaintiffs also "failed to establish standing" in the case. However, the judge noted that the court "harbors concerns" about the DOGE's access.
Musk responded to Bates' Friday ruling in a post on X, writing, "LFG," an acronym for "let's f***ing go."
Musk had previously called for Bates' impeachment after the judge ordered several government agencies to restore web pages, including those on gender ideology, that President Donald Trump's administration had taken down.
"There needs to be an immediate wave of judicial impeachments, not just one," Musk stated.
In a separate post, Musk wrote, "Truly absurd. Judges as website editors!? We should at least ATTEMPT to fire this junky jurist. The notion of having a judge job for life, no matter how bad the judgments, is ridiculous! Enough is enough."
In another case brought by 10 Democratic attorneys general, U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled on Friday to extend a temporary restraining order blocking the DOGE from accessing Treasury Department records while she reviews a preliminary injunction. Vargas argued there was a "sound factual basis" for the temporary block.
Over the weekend, sources told ABC News that the DOGE had requested access to an Internal Revenue Service system.
A White House spokesperson told the Washington Post, "Waste, fraud, and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long. It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it. DOGE will continue to shine a light on the fraud they uncover as the American people deserve to know what their government has been spending their hard earned tax dollars on."
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Originally Published at Daily Wire, World Net Daily, or The Blaze
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