A U.S. federal judge has ordered Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to release key records, citing concerns over the agency’s “unusual secrecy” in its aggressive government downsizing.
Since returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has empowered Musk—one of his top campaign donors—to lead DOGE, a controversial initiative aimed at slashing public spending and shrinking federal agencies. Under Musk’s leadership, the agency has already cut thousands of government jobs, triggering lawsuits and widespread criticism.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that DOGE’s sweeping authority and drastic budget cuts, carried out without congressional oversight, demand greater transparency. In his opinion, he emphasized the need for “urgent disclosure” of DOGE’s structure and decision-making, especially given its rapid pace of action.
“The public would be irreparably harmed by an indefinite delay in unearthing the records,” Cooper wrote, adding that DOGE is likely subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
The ruling follows growing backlash over Trump’s unprecedented government cutbacks. Last week, the president defended DOGE’s work, insisting the reductions should be “carefully targeted.”
The judge has ordered the Trump administration to submit a status report on document production by March 20, with a full disclosure timeline due by March 27.
