Judge halts Musk’s DOGE from closing USAID, cites constitutional concerns

Published 18/03/2025, 22:06
Judge halts Musk’s DOGE from closing USAID, cites constitutional concerns

On Tuesday, a Maryland federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), effectively halting its attempts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The judge’s ruling indicated that the actions taken by DOGE likely violated the U.S. Constitution.

The injunction prevents DOGE from executing several significant steps in the process of shutting down USAID, including the dismissal of agency employees, the termination of existing contracts, the closure of agency buildings, and the disabling of its computer networks.

In his written opinion, Judge Theodore Chuang stated that DOGE’s efforts to close USAID "likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways." Chuang, who was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2014, emphasized that the constitutional separation of powers grants Congress the exclusive authority to close federal agencies.

Chuang’s ruling underscored the long-standing principle that, while the President has the power to address issues like waste and fraud within the government, the dissolution of agencies falls strictly within the legislative domain of Congress.

Following the court’s decision, Elon Musk took to social media on Tuesday to express his views. Musk questioned the impartiality of the judicial process by asking, "Do this judge’s family and friends benefit from NGO money?" His comment reflects his skepticism about the motives behind the ruling.

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