Judge rejects blue state scheme to block DOGE

A group of 14 Democrat state attorneys general—including Minnesota AG Ellison—wanted the Department of Government Efficiency blocked from accessing government data as the case proceeds.

By Zachary Stieber, The Epoch Times – February 18, 2025

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 13 other states—all Democrat run, including Minnesota AG Keith Ellison—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.

PHOTO: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk walking into the White House grounds in Washington on Feb. 13, 2025. Travis Gillmore/The Epoch Times