Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency Already Taken to Court

(Boursier.com) — A few hours after the signing of the decree formalizing the creation of the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) by Donald Trump, several organizations filed legal actions to challenge this new initiative by the President of the United States. This committee, led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, aims to eliminate federal agencies and reduce staff numbers by 75%.

Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, initially co-chair of the committee, has already withdrawn from it to focus on his candidacy for governor of Ohio, according to Donald Trump spokesperson Anna Kelly . Presented as a flagship initiative of the new Trump administration, DOGE's mission is to modernize federal technologies and streamline administration.

“To restore the competence and efficiency of our federal government, my administration will establish the all-new Department of Government Effectiveness,” Donald Trump said during his inauguration speech on Monday, while telling reporters his intention to recruit approximately 20 people to ensure the implementation of the planned objectives.

Not an official department

In its executive order, the White House stressed the need to “modernize government technologies and software” to increase its efficiency. Despite its name, DOGE is not an official department and has limited powers. Experts say it is primarily an advisory committee, raising questions about its ability to implement the radical reforms planned. This unclear legal situation has led several organizations to take rapid legal action.

The plaintiffs include groups such as National Security Counselors, which accuses DOGE of violating a 1972 law governing federal committees. The American Public Health Association and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a watchdog group, have also filed similar suits. The federal employees union joined these actions, criticizing the lack of transparency and the risks for public officials.

History shows that advisory committees on reducing public spending, often announced with great fanfare, rarely produce concrete results. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan created a similar group of “outstanding private sector experts” to review executive spending. The final report, delivered 18 months late, saw very few of its recommendations implemented.