Federal Judge Rules On DOGE Access To Department of US Labor Systems
In a significant ruling on Friday, a federal judge declined to immediately block the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing U.S. Labor Department systems, despite legal challenges from labor unions. The unions, led by the AFL-CIO, had argued that DOGE’s access to sensitive government data—particularly in light of its chairman, Elon Musk—represented a conflict of interest, given that Musk’s own businesses and their competitors could be affected by federal labor investigations.
U.S. District Judge John Bates acknowledged the concerns but ultimately ruled that the unions had not demonstrated any legal injury that would justify an injunction. “Although the court harbors concerns about defendants’ alleged conduct, it must deny plaintiffs’ motion at this time,” Bates wrote in his decision, as reported by Fox News.
“No one voted for Elon Musk.” (They did however vote for Donald Trump who promised repeatedly to have Elon Musk root out wasteful spending in our government.)
— JD Vance (@JDVance) February 5, 2025
The ruling is a victory—at least for now—for the Trump administration’s aggressive push to overhaul government spending and accountability through DOGE. President Trump has been clear about his faith in Musk’s ability to streamline bureaucracy, telling reporters last week that “if there’s a conflict, we won’t let him get near it. But he does have a good natural instinct. He’s got a team of very talented people. We’re trying to shrink the government, and he can probably shrink it more than anybody else, if not better.”
But the opposition has been vocal. Democrats, particularly those on the progressive wing, have relentlessly attacked Musk since his appointment to DOGE. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dismissed Musk’s role outright, declaring him “not smart” and accusing him of lacking the intelligence necessary to properly analyze federal spending. Others have focused on the idea that Musk, as a billionaire businessman, was never elected to oversee the government’s finances.
"If you heard that type of violence-inciting rhetoric from our side of the aisle, from Republican leaders on Capitol Hill, I think there would be a lot more outrage in this room today."@PressSec addresses Democrat leaders' outrage over DOGE. pic.twitter.com/hsFyL2PnyF
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) February 5, 2025
This criticism prompted responses from Trump allies, including Vice President JD Vance, who reminded critics that Trump had been elected, and that part of his platform was the promise to “have Elon Musk root out wasteful spending in our government.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that “President Trump was elected with a mandate by the American people to make this government more efficient.” She added that Trump campaigned alongside Musk, specifically highlighting his role in reviewing the federal government’s books and ensuring accountability to taxpayers.
Polling data suggests that much of the public is on board with this mission. A McLaughlin and Associates survey, cited by The Daily Wire, found that roughly four out of five voters support efforts to rein in government spending and borrowing, particularly in light of inflation concerns. This overwhelming public sentiment adds weight to Trump’s argument that his administration has a clear mandate to tackle Washington’s bloated budget.