Judge Rejects Request to Block DOGE From Accessing Government Data

A group of state attorneys general wanted the Department of Government Efficiency blocked from accessing government data as the case proceeds.

A federal judge on Feb. 18 turned down a request from a group of state attorneys general to block the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing data at seven government agencies, finding the states had not met the bar for relief.

“The court is aware that DOGE’s unpredictable actions have resulted in considerable uncertainty and confusion for Plaintiffs and many of their agencies and residents,” U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan wrote in a 10-page decision. “But the ‘possibility’ that defendants may take actions that irreparably harm plaintiffs ‘is not enough.’”

New Mexico and other states had asked Chutkan to block DOGE and Elon Musk, a special government employee leading the DOGE efforts, from the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Energy, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Commerce.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.