A group of 14 state attorneys general, including Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell, have filed a lawsuit challenging the authority of billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access sensitive government data and exercise unchecked power. The lawsuit argues that Musk’s actions at DOGE should only be taken by a Senate-confirmed officer, under constitutional provisions delineating the powers of Congress and the president.
The attorneys general are seeking to prevent Musk from issuing orders to the executive branch outside of DOGE, declaring his actions as having no legal effect. They are also requesting a restraining order to bar Musk and DOGE from canceling government contracts and dismantling agencies.
Campbell stated that Trump cannot create a new department to restructure the federal government and grant unchecked power to a billionaire without congressional action. The lawsuit aims to end corruption and abuse of power at DOGE that threatens funding for essential needs like healthcare and education.
Attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington have joined the lawsuit. Musk has been criticized for his approach of cutting spending and restructuring priorities by calling for the deletion of entire agencies from the federal government.
The lawsuit alleges that Musk’s actions are unconstitutional and raise concerns about the secure handling of sensitive information at agencies like the CDC and IRS. The attorneys general believe that Trump’s utilization of Musk demonstrates a lack of governance and constitutional adherence.
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