The state attorneys general alleged that Musk’s ‘sweeping authority’ over the federal government is unconstitutional.
Attorneys general from 14 states filed a lawsuit on Thursday against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), its head Elon Musk, and President Donald Trump, challenging the administration’s delegation of authority to Musk.
The group, led by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, alleged that the “sweeping authority” granted by the Trump administration to Musk is unconstitutional because he has not been confirmed by the Senate.
“There is no greater threat to democracy than the accumulation of state power in the hands of a single, unelected individual,” the attorneys general stated in the lawsuit.
“Mr. Musk’s seemingly limitless and unchecked power to strip the government of its workforce and eliminate entire departments with the stroke of a pen or a click of a mouse would have been shocking to those who won this country’s independence.”
The attorneys general joining Torrez in the lawsuit are those from Arizona, Michigan, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, Vermont, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Washington, and Oregon.
The White House has said that Musk will serve as a special government employee under the Trump administration. The position means that Musk’s service would only be temporary.
Trump established DOGE to help achieve the administration’s goal of reducing federal spending and boosting government efficiency.
This is a developing story and will be updated.