The lawsuit filed by Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford and several other attorneys general challenges the level of power allegedly granted to Elon Musk as the leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The plaintiffs argue that Musk has received an unconstitutional amount of power without proper oversight, violating the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. They express concerns about Musk and his associates accessing sensitive federal materials without security clearance and his influence over federal agencies.
The lawsuit seeks a court ruling to declare Musk’s actions unconstitutional, prevent him from issuing orders within the executive branch outside of DOGE, and invalidate any previous actions he has taken in this capacity. This case is part of broader legal challenges against the authority and actions of DOGE under Musk’s leadership. Another lawsuit, involving 18 attorneys general, aims to block DOGE from accessing federal payment systems and has already resulted in a temporary block on access to Treasury Department records. The first hearing for that case is scheduled soon.