- A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that Elon Musk likely wielded unconstitutional influence in spearheading the Trump administration’s efforts to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development. Bloomberg News reports that it is the most direct ruling when it comes to the legality of Musk’s role as an adviser to President Donald Trump since he took office on Jan. 20.
- District Judge Theodore Chuang said that USAID workers and contractors who sued the Trump administration were likely to be successful in arguing Musk “exercised significant authority” in the decision to shutter the agency’s headquarters.
- Chuang wrote Musk likely violated the Constitution’s appointments clause and separation of powers.
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A federal judge ruled on Tuesday, March 18, that Elon Musk likely wielded unconstitutional influence in conducting the Trump administration’s efforts to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
What did the judge rule?
Bloomberg News reports that it is the most direct ruling when it comes to the legality of Musk’s role as an adviser to President Donald Trump since he took office on Jan. 20.
District Judge Theodore Chuang said that USAID workers and contractors who sued the Trump administration were likely to be successful in arguing Musk “exercised significant authority” in the decision to shutter the agency’s headquarters, which is reserved for officers of the U.S.
That likely means that Musk violated the Constitution’s appointments clause, according to Chuang.
What happens now?
CBS News reports that Chuang ruled in favor of more than two dozen current and former USAID employees and contractors, who challenged attempts to close USAID, which were led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Chuang’s ruling gives the plaintiffs part of their request for a preliminary injunction.
The judge ordered Musk and the DOGE employees to reinstate access to email, payment and other electronic systems for the current and former employees, as well as contractors.
What does the order prohibit Musk from doing?
Chuang also ordered that DOGE and Musk refrain from taking any action to shutter USAID, including putting workers on administrative leave, firing them, closing agency buildings and offices or deleting information on its websites or collections.
DOGE and Musk are now barred under the judge’s order from taking any further actions in relation to USAID without the “express authorization” of an agency official with legal authority to take action.
How does it play into the bigger picture?
DOGE agents reportedly accessed the agency’s financial and personal data systems, and hundreds of USAID employees were placed on administrative leave.
USAID’s website was shut down in February, and email accounts were deactivated.
