The Trump administration wants to prevent Doge from handing over the records to federal court.
Mask shifts focus from Doge to Tesla after profits plummet
Elon Musk told investors that he will refocus on Tesla and will begin reducing his involvement with the Ministry of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in May.
No Brands – News Value
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration hopes the Supreme Court will step in in its fight to prevent Doge from becoming subject to the public records law.
In an emergency request filed May 21, the Justice Department asked the court to suspend a judicial order requiring testimony regarding Doge’s production documents and its operations, as a federal court would decide whether government efficiency launched by Elon Musk must comply with the Freedom of Information Act.
The administration argues that Doge is exempt from the country’s highest public disclosure laws as it is an advisory body to the president.
The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics of Washington, a Watchdog Group, are suing Doge, claiming that they “do not provide meaningful transparency in its operations or assurances that they maintain appropriate records.”
The group hopes to learn more about Doge’s role in Trump’s efforts to dramatically reduce and rebuild the federal government.
“Americans deserve government transparency more than ever,” said Donald Sherman, executive director and chief advisor to the crew.
This is not the first Doge-related request to reach the Supreme Court.
The Trump administration has also asked the judiciary to ensure staff access to data on millions of Americans held by the US Social Security Agency.
In the most recent case, the administration balked the judge’s decision that Doge appears to have sufficiently independent authority to be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
US District Judge Christopher Cooper also said in his order in March that Doge was “marked by an extraordinary secret.”
When the administration tried to dismiss the crew’s case, Cooper said Doge needed to take over the information.
The Justice Department told the Supreme Court that the decision “turns FOIA towards its head” effectively required disclosure, and that the court said Doge must comply with the law.
That could lead to “opening season for FOIA requests for presidential advisors,” Attorney General John Saurer argued in an emergency appeal.
“The court rejected a similar fishing expedition to the function of the enforcement,” Sauer wrote.
The Supreme Court asked the crew to respond to the administration’s request by noon on May 23rd.
