Judge Weighs Restraint on Musk's Access to Federal Data

A federal judge on Monday indicated she might not immediately halt Elon Musk's influence over government agencies, where he and his team have accessed sensitive data and carried out numerous firings. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan stated during a Monday hearing that she required more evidence of imminent harm before approving a request by a group of states for a temporary restraining order to prevent Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team from entering federal agency data systems and prohibiting them from making personnel decisions regarding federal employees.

Chutkan expressed concern over DOGE's actions, describing them as "concerning" and "troubling indeed," but emphasized the need for more specific details beyond "a generalized fear that this is going to happen." She urged the states' attorney to provide concrete evidence of the potential harm caused by DOGE's actions.

DOGE's Unpredictable Actions Raise Concerns

Judge Chutkan also criticized a Justice Department lawyer for failing to confirm the number of federal employees fired since Friday and any planned firings in the next two weeks. She instructed the lawyer to investigate these matters and report back to her. The judge pointed out the unpredictability of DOGE's actions, stating, "DOGE’s actions in this arena have been very unpredictable and scattershot," adding that it was unclear whether this unpredictability was intentional or a result of the scope of their authority.

Chutkan indicated her intention to issue a decision on the states' request for a temporary restraining order within 24 hours. This comes after she declined to support a similar request by the states during a Friday hearing, finding the relief sought to be too broad.

Mass Firings Across Federal Agencies

The states' intervention request follows thousands of federal employees being placed on leave or fired in recent weeks. These firings have impacted various agencies, including nearly 300 employees with the Federal Aviation Administration who were dismissed over the weekend, according to an employees' union. Hundreds of employees at the Centers for Disease Control, including fellows responsible for critical public health roles, have also been affected, along with Transportation Department workers, Department of Homeland Security employees, and immigration judges, among others.