A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has ruled in favor of Elon Musk’s DOGE (Data Optimization and Government Efficiency) team, allowing them access to sensitive records from the Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. U.S. District Judge John Bates denied a motion from a coalition of unions and nonprofit organizations seeking to block DOGE from accessing these private documents.
The judge’s decision centered on whether DOGE qualifies as a federal “agency” under the law, which would grant it the authority to assign its employees to other federal departments to access sensitive data. Bates concluded that DOGE likely meets the criteria of an agency, enabling it to lawfully detail its employees to other agencies under the Economy Act.
Plaintiffs had argued that DOGE, established by executive order, is not a formal agency and therefore lacks the authority to assign staff to other government branches. However, Bates noted that DOGE’s legal team has avoided labeling it as an agency during court proceedings, possibly to evade obligations under laws like the Administrative Procedures Act, the Privacy Act, and the Freedom of Information Act.
The ruling marks a significant win for DOGE, which has faced criticism and legal challenges over its operations. Elon Musk celebrated the decision on social media, expressing his satisfaction with the outcome. This case follows Musk’s recent public criticism of Judge Bates, including calls for his impeachment, after a separate ruling required agencies to restore public health data deleted during the Trump administration.
