The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by tech moguls Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is facing legal challenges as Donald Trump begins his second term as U.S. President.
On Monday, two lawsuits were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, accusing DOGE of violating the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). This law requires federal advisory committees to operate transparently, with balance and accessibility.
The first lawsuit, filed by the National Security Counselors, argues that DOGE is acting as a federal advisory body without following FACA’s requirements. A second group, which includes a coalition of professional organizations, is calling for DOGE’s activities to be suspended until it aligns with federal regulations.
Critics have raised concerns over DOGE’s composition, which reportedly includes figures such as tech industry leaders, Trump supporters, and associates of Musk and Ramaswamy, but lacks adequate representation from federal employees. Additionally, allegations of private meetings suggest a possible violation of FACA’s transparency rules.
Elon Musk and Donald Trump have yet to address the lawsuits publicly. Meanwhile, Ramaswamy is expected to step down from DOGE as he shifts focus to his gubernatorial campaign in Ohio later this month.
The lawsuits bring added complexity to DOGE’s ambitious goal of cutting $500 billion from annual federal spending. Legal experts warn that unresolved compliance issues could jeopardize the initiative’s credibility and effectiveness.
