The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal cost-cutting initiative spearheaded by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is facing multiple lawsuits as its activities draw scrutiny.
The legal actions coincided with President Donald Trump’s inauguration, adding to the controversy surrounding the initiative.
One lawsuit, filed Monday by the public interest group National Security Counselors, alleges that DOGE is operating as a federal advisory committee in violation of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). FACA mandates that advisory groups be “fairly balanced” and conduct meetings that are “objective and accessible to the public.” The lawsuit claims DOGE’s structure and operations fail to meet these legal standards.
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Another lawsuit, brought by a coalition of veterans, teachers, public health professionals, and other groups, similarly accuses DOGE of noncompliance with FACA. The plaintiffs are asking the court to block DOGE’s activities until it adheres to transparency and oversight regulations.
“Americans deserve to know what’s happening behind closed doors,” said Skye Perryman, CEO of Democracy Forward, one of the groups representing the plaintiffs. “DOGE cannot operate in the shadows without the accountability required by law.”
Neither Musk, Ramaswamy, nor representatives of the Trump campaign have issued a response. Ramaswamy is expected to step away from DOGE later this month to focus on his campaign for Ohio governor.
DOGE, while not a formal government agency, was tasked by President Trump to recommend strategies to reduce federal expenditures by $500 billion annually. Critics argue the group’s membership lacks the diversity required by FACA, noting it consists largely of tech executives, Trump affiliates, and associates of Musk and Ramaswamy.
The lawsuits also highlight concerns over private meetings held by DOGE leaders with elected officials and industry executives, allegedly violating FACA’s requirement for public accessibility.
Kel McClanahan, executive director of National Security Counselors, expressed doubts about DOGE’s capacity to understand federal operations. “Government work is not corporate work,” McClanahan told CBS MoneyWatch. “Any recommendations made without the perspective of federal employees are doomed to fail.”
Two attorneys, Jerald Lentini and Joshua Erlich, claim their applications to join DOGE were ignored. Both allege that DOGE’s selection process excludes individuals who could represent federal employees’ perspectives, further violating FACA’s balance requirements.
As the legal challenges unfold, critics argue that the initiative’s lack of expertise and transparency undermines its ability to make effective recommendations. The outcome of the lawsuits could determine the future of DOGE’s efforts to streamline federal spending.
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