Washington: A U.S. judge has extended a temporary order preventing Elon Musk’s cost-cutting government team, known as DOGE, from accessing Treasury Department systems that handle trillions of dollars in payments.
U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan made the decision during a hearing on Friday, opting not to rule yet on a request by 19 Democratic state attorneys general for a more permanent preliminary injunction. Instead, she left in place a temporary restraining order issued the previous Saturday.
The lawsuit, brought by the state attorneys general, argues that DOGE’s involvement in Treasury operations could pose risks to federal financial management and oversight. Supporters of DOGE, however, claim the initiative is designed to streamline inefficiencies and reduce unnecessary expenditures in government operations.
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While the judge has yet to determine whether DOGE will face a long-term restriction, the extension of the block underscores ongoing legal and political tensions surrounding Musk’s involvement in government cost-cutting initiatives.
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