OAN Staff James Meyers
4pm – Tuesday, March 18th, 2025
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Elon Musk could have acted unconstitutionally by his order to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and directed the government's Department of Efficiency (DOGE).
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The Trump administration is likely to appeal the decision.
Maryland US District Judge Theodore Chuan has imposed a provisional injunction requiring the Trump administration to restore email and computer access to all employees working for USAID, including those who have taken administrative leave.
Chuan was nominated for former Democratic President Barack Obama on September 25th.th2013, he received the committee on May 2nd.nd2014.
The judge also restricted Tesla founders and Doge from taking action against USAID without “explicit approval” from agency officials.
“The court found that the defendant's unilateral actions to close the USAID are likely to violate the US Constitution,” Chuan wrote in his 68-page ruling.
The administration will take two weeks to submit documents confirming that USAID can “reoccupy USAID headquarters in its original location.”
The ruling comes after the DOGE organization shut down USAID, fired all employees, removed signs from DC's headquarters, and then removed signs in addition to their global termination programs. Soon afterwards, the administration praised the wasteful government funding cuts, including $60 billion in foreign aid spending and 92% of USAID grants.
After reclaiming the White House, Trump has been extremely critical of the agency, explaining that “it was run by a ton of radical madmen, so we're putting them out.”
72nd Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been appointed acting manager.
The main legal question asked about Doge's actions was what mask's role was, and what Trump had previously proposed was to be the leader of the organization. However, the administration's lawyers have said in legal documents that Musk is the president's “special government employee” (SGE).
NPR We also previously reported that Musk has not been paid for his work with Doge.
In February, Vice President JD Vance responded to a Democratic complaint regarding Musk's Doge involvement.
The judge went on to explain his “reasoning” for the sake of his award.
“If the president can escape the appointment clause as advisor beyond the traditional role of White House advisers who communicate his priorities to agency directors and instead exercise important authority across the federal government, the appointment clause will be reduced beyond technical form to bypass officially appointed officers,” Chaun wrote.
“In these circumstances, the evidence now contradicts the defendant's drastic claim that Musk had acted solely as an advisor, and “had the decision to close the USAID headquarters and website, even if he lacked the authority to make that decision,” Chuan continued.
“This record must be taken into consideration alongside the fact that masks appear to be involved in the closure of the CFPB. [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau] The same goes for headquarters,” Chuan emphasized in his opinion.
“And evidence that Musk and Doge, despite their advisory role, have taken other unilateral actions without clear permission from agency officials,” he said.
In response, Musk fell into ruling by reposting an X-post from conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Kirk said: “The only provisions of the constitution on the left were “You're open to the boundaries” and “All American money will be sent abroad.” ”
“Today's decision is a key victory over Elon Musk and the US government and his doge attacks on the Constitution,” Norm Eisen said. CNN Legal analyst and executive chair of the State Democracy Fund, representing the plaintiffs.
“This case is a milestone in pushing back the illegality of musk and clums,” he continued.
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