A federal judge has ordered Trump administration officials involved with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to testify in a legal dispute that seeks to block DOGE's access to sensitive government databases.
U.S. District Judge John Bates said officials from the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other agencies linked to the Elon Musk-led DOGE will be questioned under oath by lawyers for labor unions and other groups suing to block DOGE's efforts to trim the federal bureaucracy.
The groups claim some DOGE officials and allies have already been granted access to sensitive databases and that privacy concerns of federal workers are being ignored.
Bates had earlier refused to block DOGE access entirely. He limited the depositions to eight hours, but no specific timeline was announced. Names of those who will be asked to testify were not revealed.
"It would be strange to permit defendants to submit evidence that addresses critical factual issues and proceed to rule on a preliminary injunction motion without permitting plaintiffs to explore those factual issues through very limited discovery," the judge wrote.
Bates’ order also permits a limited set of written questions to be submitted to the agencies targeted by the lawsuit.
13 Comments
Donatello
The claims about privacy concerns are overblown. I trust DOGE to handle this data responsibly.
Leonardo
Finally, some progress! I'm glad the judge is allowing these depositions. It's time for the truth about DOGE to come out.
Raphael
I believe DOGE is acting in the best interests of the American people. They're just trying to make our government work better.
Michelangelo
It's time for the government to embrace new technology and innovative solutions. This is a step in the right direction.
Leonardo
It's time for the government to stop wasting our money and start focusing on results. DOGE is the solution we've been waiting for.
Africa
I'm confident that DOGE will use this access to the databases to improve government efficiency without compromising privacy.
Mariposa
I support DOGE's mission to improve government efficiency. We need to do everything we can to streamline the bureaucracy.
Muchacha
I believe in DOGE's mission and I'm confident they will succeed. This is a victory for the American people.
Bella Ciao
The government needs to be more transparent. These depositions will help ensure that DOGE is operating with the public's best interests in mind.
Comandante
It's time for the government to embrace new technology and innovative solutions. This is a step in the right direction.
ZmeeLove
I'm excited to see what DOGE can achieve with this access to the databases. This is a long-overdue step towards a more efficient government.
Habibi
I'm excited to see what DOGE can achieve with this access to the databases. This is a long-overdue step towards a more efficient government.
Muchacho
The government needs to be more transparent. These depositions will help ensure that DOGE is operating with the public's best interests in mind.