Breaking News: A federal judge has ordered Elon Musk to testify under oath about his role in dismantling a federal agency while leading Trump’s controversial “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), marking a significant legal setback for the billionaire’s secretive government operations.
Judge’s Ruling: “No Alternative” to Musk’s Testimony
U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang ruled this week that Elon Musk and two former officials must provide oral testimony in a lawsuit brought by anonymous USAID employees and contractors. The judge declared there is “no alternative” to deposing Musk regarding his role in the agency’s takedown.
Judge Chuang rejected arguments that Musk should be protected from testifying, noting it was “at best unclear” whether Musk qualified as a high-ranking official entitled to such protection, especially since he has left government service. The ruling emphasized that plaintiffs had shown Musk likely possesses “first-hand knowledge essential to the case” that cannot be obtained elsewhere.
The lawsuit represents one of many ongoing court challenges to the Trump administration’s push to slash federal government operations through DOGE.
The Rise of DOGE: Musk’s “Government Efficiency” Mission
President Donald Trump appointed Elon Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with a mandate to dramatically downsize the U.S. government. The initiative was presented as an effort to “dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulation, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies”.
Despite Musk’s initial promise of transparency—claiming operations would “be as transparent as possible” and potentially streamed live—DOGE has operated with extraordinary secrecy. Team members have embedded themselves in agencies including Veterans Affairs, Treasury, and Education without public announcement, while career staff report being sidelined.
DOGE’s claimed accomplishments include:
· Identifying potential Social Security payments to individuals listed as over 150 years old
· Canceling contracts and ending leases for underused buildings
· Firing tens of thousands of federal workers
However, these claims have faced scrutiny, with fact-checkers identifying errors in DOGE’s accounting of canceled contracts.
Legal and Ethical Controversies Mount
Constitutional Challenges
Multiple lawsuits allege DOGE has operated unconstitutionally. A key issue is whether Musk—who was not Senate-confirmed—wielded powers reserved for “principal officers” who must undergo Senate confirmation. The White House has offered contradictory descriptions, variously calling Musk a “special government employee” and “senior adviser to the president”.
Transparency Deficit
DOGE has actively resisted oversight:
· The Trump administration has banned DOGE staffers from speaking publicly without approval
· The Supreme Court recently halted a court order that would have required DOGE to turn over information to a government watchdog
· Federal agencies have released only 22 financial disclosure forms for over 100 DOGE members requested by ProPublica
Workforce and Conflict Concerns
ProPublica’s investigation identified more than 100 DOGE staffers, revealing several troubling patterns:
Demographic Profile
· Gender composition: 83% male (90 men, 19 women)
· Age distribution: Over 60% in their 20s or 30s
· Government experience: Over 80% had no previous government work
Conflict of Interest Issues
At least 23 DOGE officials are making cuts at federal agencies that regulate industries that previously employed them. One staffer owned up to $715,000 in stocks of companies regulated by an agency where he helped implement layoffs.
The Israel Connection in Trump’s Immigration Policy
While Musk’s DOGE operations show no direct ties to Israel, the Trump administration’s immigration policies have involved Israeli-connected donors. The administration used a private jet owned by Gil Dezer—a Florida real estate magnate, Trump donor, and member of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces—to deport Palestinians to the West Bank.
Dezer, whose family has collaborated with Trump on properties for nearly two decades, told media he feels “very proud of the job he’s doing” regarding Trump’s presidency.
Political Backlash and Investigations
House Democrats have launched over 150 investigations and inquiries into DOGE, accusing Musk of “infiltrating government agencies, executing mass illegal firings, abolishing lifesaving programs, [and] creeping on Americans’ most sensitive data”.
Key congressional actions include:
· Letters to 24 federal agencies about eliminated FOIA staff
· Demands for investigations into DOGE’s data access at Labor and NLRB
· Requests for examination of Musk’s conflicts of interest at multiple agencies
What Comes Next
With Musk ordered to testify, several developments loom:
Immediate legal proceedings: Depositions of Musk and former USAID officials Peter Marocco and Jeremy Lewin will proceed. The testimony could reveal who authorized key decisions about USAID’s dismantling.
Ongoing DOGE operations: Despite Musk’s reduced involvement, more than 100 staffers remain embedded across government agencies. The White House has requested $45 million for DOGE’s operations next year.
Broader constitutional questions: Multiple federal courts continue to examine whether DOGE’s structure and operations violate constitutional separation of powers.
The outcome of Musk’s deposition could significantly impact not only the USAID lawsuit but also the broader legal challenges to DOGE’s authority and operations. As one watchdog official noted, “It’s harder to stop what they’re doing if you don’t know what they’re doing or who’s doing it”.
This article synthesizes information from court documents, investigative reports, and news coverage of ongoing developments. The situation continues to evolve as legal proceedings advance.