The newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) faces a flurry of lawsuits from leftist groups and a federal employee union even as boss Elon Musk moves forward with his first round of cuts.
Filed moments after President Donald Trump assumed office on Monday, the suits accuse DOGE of not complying with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).
“The plaintiffs each claim DOGE is covered by FACA, which mandates federal advisory committees meet transparency requirements like having a charter, fairly balanced membership and a designated federal officer to call meetings,” according to The Hill.
DOGE, which was officially formed Monday, doesn’t boast any of this.
BREAKING: Trump forms the Department of Government Efficiency by executive order.
Trump says there will be an office for ~20 people to make sure DOGE’s mission is fulfilled.pic.twitter.com/gjomytcLh1
— TRUMP’S WORLD (@TRUMPWORLDHQ) January 21, 2025
“DOGE’s stacked membership, far from being fairly balanced, reveals that only one viewpoint is represented: that of ‘small-government crusaders’ with backgrounds in either the tech industry or Republican politics,” one suit reads. “This shortcoming renders DOGE’s membership imbalanced and unfit for the function it has been directed to perform.”
Trump could theoretically stomp out the lawsuits by just making DOGE an official government entity, but that could potentially lead to even bigger problems.
“If the Trump administration changes the structure of DOGE to be a government office, that would potentially moot the case,” Kel McClanahan of the National Security Counselors (one of the plaintiffs) admitted to the Washington Post.
“But that would subject Musk and others to a whole bunch of ethics laws I don’t think they want to be subject to,” he added.
Meanwhile, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents 800,000 federal workers, argues in its suit that DOGE isn’t in the best interest of the American people — despite a majority of Americans voting for it via their vote for Trump.
“The advice and guidance that Mr. Trump has charged DOGE with producing is sweeping and consequential,” the suit reads. “DOGE — the members of which currently do not represent the interests of everyday Americans — will be recommending cuts to government agencies and programs that protect health, benefits, consumer finance, and product safety.”
Peak government employee union is suing to slow down efforts at efficiency and accountability to taxpayers. https://t.co/KxPVXxBIq0
— Steven Sinofsky (@stevesi) January 20, 2025
In a statement to Politico, Norm Eisen of State Democracy Defenders Action, another plaintiff, went so far as to suggest the creation of DOGE is a threat to democracy.
“We 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,” he said.
Meanwhile, despite these suits, Musk has already begun moving forward with applying cuts to the federal government.
Late Monday evening, DOGE’s official Twitter/X account posted images showing that the Chief Diversity Officers Executive Council has been disbanded.
Look:
It begins https://t.co/Uh9lyb3lp8
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2025
The council’s job was previously described as follows:
“The Council will advise agencies and their senior leaders on promising practices in DEIA [diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility] and promote those practices as important to agency strategic plans, missions, and operations; coordinate activities of its member agencies on government-wide policy implementation and partnerships; assist with setting clear strategies, benchmarks, and metrics for DEIA standards of excellence and accountability across the Federal government; and promote an inclusive workplace culture for all Federal employees.”
The council and its webpage no longer exist now that Trump is president and DOGE has been formed.
ELON’S DOGE BARES TEETH: AXES FEDERAL DEI COUNCIL ON DAY ONE
“Not just the website, the council itself has been deleted.”
For Elon’s first official act as DOGE chief, he dismantled the Chief Diversity Officers Executive Council completely.
This swift action signals DOGE… https://t.co/wbtyFQRrID pic.twitter.com/ExmhQLsQxK
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 21, 2025
Critics celebrated its disbandment.
Look:
Thank you ELON
— Paula Aaron Rose (@paulaaaronrose) January 21, 2025
AWESOME! Deleted the whole council!!!
— Candy Worner (@candy_worner) January 21, 2025
DEI Bureaucrats need to brush up their resumes. Maybe learn to code.
— YellowJacket (@YellowJ01650816) January 21, 2025
Watching bureaucracy get 404’d in real time is peak entertainment. Government efficiency through deletion – now that’s what I call a speed run!! ♥️♥️
— Zubair (@zubair_zone) January 21, 2025
Elon isn’t wasting time with the bureaucracy. Axing the DEI council is a bold move that will stir plenty of debate. If he can really cut the fat, this could be the start of a new direction for government efficiency.
— ANDRES (@ANDRES78087) January 21, 2025
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