Judge blocks DOGE from additional USAID firings
By Aysha Bagchi
USA Today
..... A federal judge on Tuesday [03/18/2025] blocked Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency from firing any more USAID employees or terminating USAID contracts, writing that efforts to speedily shut down the aid organization were likely unconstitutional.
.....
The Trump administration's shutdown efforts "likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways," wrote Judge Theodore D. Chuang.
..... Chuang wrot4e that the accelerated process "deprived public's elected representatives in Congress of their constitutional authority to decide whether, when, and how to close down an agency cerated by Congress.
..... Since President Donald Trump took office and established DOGE on juryman 20, [2205] almost all of USAID's workers have been placed on administrative leave and up to 50% of tis employees have been terminated, according to Chuang's ruling.
..... Chuang issued a preliminary injunction blocking Musk and DOGE from taking various steps while he continues to consider the case before issuing a final ruling, In addition to barring the Tesla CEO and Trump advisers and his government department from firing more employees. Chuang ordered them to reinstate access to email and payment systems for all current USAID employees.
.....
The ruling also prohibits Musk and DOGE from disclosing information from any current or former employee's personnel or security clearance file., clsoing USAID buildings, and permanently deleted USAID website content.
.....
The lawsuit was brought by 26 former and current USAID employees and contractors, who argued that Musk and DOGE were responsible for the shutdown activity at the agency.
.....
The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
..... Chuang noted that DOGE team members went to USAID headquarters around January 27 [2025] to access the agency's financial and personnel systems.
..... On February 3, [2025] Musk said in alive broadcast on X that he and others were "in the process" of shutting down USAID," according to Chuang's opinion. Musk claimed the aid organization had supported "radically left causes throughout the world" and was "beyond repair."
..... While Musk was hosting that event, a DOGE team member emailed all USAID staff to say the organization's headquarters would be closed that day. More than 2,000 USAID employees were put on administrative leave that day and the next.
..... Trump stated in his March 4 [2025] address to Congress that DOGE "is headed by Elon Musk."
..... "Notably, USIAD officials who refused to comply with Musk's demands to give DOGE Team Members access to USAID secured facilities and computer systems were subsequently placed on administrative leave," Chuang wrote.
..... Chuang determined that it's likely Musk has exercised significant authority without being confirmed to his role by congress and without Congress granting Trump authority to appoint Musk without confirmation. That runs afoul of the Constitution;s Appointment Clause, according to the opinion.
..... Contributing: Bart Jansen, USA Today