Just two days into Donald Trump’s second presidency, his administration has already been hit with a flurry of legal challenges. Four lawsuits were filed against the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) shortly after Trump’s inauguration. The department, led by none other than Elon Musk, is tasked with identifying areas for government spending cuts.
Musk, who had previously stated he could help slash up to $2 trillion from the U.S. federal budget, later revised that estimate to $1 trillion. This bold claim came at a time when the U.S. government was spending approximately $6.75 trillion in a fiscal year. Musk, now heading the DOGE department, is set to bring his vision of government efficiency into play. However, his new position has quickly attracted attention and legal controversy.
Musk’s appointment to lead DOGE comes after Vivek Ramaswamy, who was initially part of the team, resigned just hours after Trump took office. This left Musk in full control of the department. However, the department has already found itself at the center of multiple lawsuits that challenge its structure and authority.
One of the first legal actions came from the National Security Counselors law firm, claiming that DOGE meets the criteria of a federal advisory committee, which would require it to adhere to specific legal standards, including providing transparent advice to the government. This was followed by lawsuits from organizations like Public Citizen, State Democracy Defenders Fund, and the American Federation of Government Employees, which made similar claims about the need for DOGE to comply with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).
A third lawsuit from Democracy Forward and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington echoed these concerns, pushing for the department to follow FACA regulations. However, the Trump administration has countered these lawsuits with an executive order stating that DOGE operates “within” the U.S. government, effectively exempting it from FACA requirements.
In addition to these legal challenges, a fourth lawsuit was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, which seeks public records related to how DOGE officials have interacted with the White House since Trump’s transition. This lawsuit aims to shed light on the department’s connections and influence within the White House.
While the lawsuits continue to unfold, the Trump administration has already begun implementing various controversial policies, such as recognizing only two genders in government programs, prioritizing free speech rights, and withdrawing from the World Health Organization. These early actions show that the administration plans to make significant changes quickly, although its relationship with DOGE and its future remains under intense legal scrutiny.
It’s clear that the Trump administration, still in its infancy, is facing a slew of challenges, not just politically, but also legally. The Department of Government Efficiency, with Elon Musk at the helm, is just one example of the dramatic shifts in policy and governance taking place under the new presidency.
