As the “Government Efficiency Department” led by Elon Musk conducts a major review of federal government departments in the United States, doubts about Musk’s excessive power are also on the rise.
On February 13th local time, 14 states in the United States filed a class action lawsuit against Musk, US President Donald Trump, and the Department of Efficiency, accusing all parties of violating the Constitution. As the number of lawsuits increased, Musk continued to say that all federal agencies should be “deleted”.
On Thursday, the attorneys general of 14 states including New Mexico, Michigan, California, Oregon, and Washington filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., accusing Trump of violating the Constitution by establishing the Department of Government Efficiency without congressional permission, and Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency exercising “unrestricted power” over the federal government without congressional authorization.
The indictment states that Musk’s actions towards the federal government were actions that could only be taken by officials approved by a Senate vote. But Musk’s unauthorized dismantling of federal agencies and access to sensitive data poses a serious obstacle to state and local governments, federal employees, and the American public. The government efficiency department poses a threat to cybersecurity and undermines public trust in the federal government.
These 14 states require the court to prohibit Musk from issuing orders to administrative departments outside of the government efficiency department and declare his actions to have no legal effect. For Musk’s “data obtained through illegal organizations,” states require Musk to explain how the data was used and demand that the court halt Musk and the government efficiency department’s “unauthorized access.
The indictment also demands that Musk and the government efficiency department be prohibited from arbitrarily changing the use of public funds, canceling government contracts, and taking measures to dissolve federal government agencies.
Michigan Attorney General Nana Neisser stated at a press conference that the goal of each state is to request the court to declare Musk’s orders and actions invalid and issue a restraining order. Arizona Attorney General Chris Meyers also said that the driving of Americans by an “unelected billionaire” 250 years later would make American fathers angry.
On Thursday, Musk further stated during the World Government Summit in the United Arab Emirates that the United States should “delete all federal agencies instead of leaving some”. He said that if the grass is not rooted, the weeds will quickly regrow.
Currently, the government efficiency department led by Musk is facing a series of lawsuits. This week, more than 20 federal government employees filed a lawsuit, demanding that Musk and the government efficiency department be banned from obtaining sensitive data, and federal employees be dismissed until Musk is legally appointed in accordance with the US Constitution.
Last week, 19 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit to prohibit the government efficiency department from obtaining personal data from the US Treasury Department, accusing the department of violating the Constitution. The New York state judge subsequently announced a temporary ban on the government efficiency department from obtaining relevant data.
Regarding the latest lawsuit, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt condemned states for using justice as a weapon to attack Trump and announced that the White House will continue to fight against all parties in court.