A US judge has ordered Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to release its internal documents, citing concerns over the agency’s “unusual secrecy”. This move comes after President Donald Trump launched an effort to cut public spending and reduce the federal government’s role, with Musk leading the charge.
Musk, who became a senior advisor to Trump in 2025, has been heading DOGE, which has been working to slash government jobs and upend agencies. However, the agency’s actions have been shrouded in secrecy, prompting numerous lawsuits.
US District Judge Christopher Cooper stated that DOGE’s actions have been “unprecedented” and lack congressional input. The judge argued that the public would be harmed by an indefinite delay in accessing the records.
The judge’s order requires Trump’s government to file a status report on document production by March 20 and confer with plaintiffs on a joint report by March 27. This development is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding DOGE’s efforts to reduce government spending.
