A U.S. federal judge extended restrictions on Elon Musk's controversial \"Department of Government Efficiency\" (DOGE) team from accessing Treasury payment systems Friday, while another court granted partial access to labor and health agencies. The rulings highlight mounting legal challenges to Trump-era government reforms led by the Tesla CEO.
Judge Jeannette Vargas upheld a temporary block preventing DOGE from interacting with Treasury infrastructure managing trillions in payments, citing privacy risks for millions of Americans. Meanwhile, Judge John Bates permitted DOGE access to Labor and Health departments, calling the status of Musk's team a \"Goldilocks entity\" in administrative law arguments.
The split decisions come amid over 70 lawsuits challenging Trump administration policies, including efforts to eliminate federal agencies like the Department of Education. DOGE staffers aim to identify \"wasteful spending\" but face allegations of overreach from 19 Democratic state attorneys general.
Musk celebrated partial access approvals on social media as a \"HUGE win,\" while legal battles continue over privacy concerns and the team's legal authority. Analysts suggest the cases could reshape how private-sector figures engage with federal systems.
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U.S. judges bar Musk's DOGE from Treasury, allow access to labor
cgtn.com
