DOGE is hit with internal bickering between Musk and Ramaswamy. And two lawsuits claim DOGE violates FACA law.
DOGE Sued Minutes After Inauguration
CBS News reports Elon Musk’s DOGE faces lawsuit as Donald Trump is inaugurated
A coalition representing veterans, public health professionals, teachers and other groups also filed a suit Monday against DOGE, citing FACA and asking a court to block DOGE’s activities until it complies with law.
One suit, filed Monday by a public interest law firm called National Security Counselors, claims DOGE is operating as a federal advisory committee. That puts the initiative in violation of a law called the Federal Advisory Committee Act, or FACA, which regulates the functions and transparency of federal advisory committees, according to the group.
FACA requires these groups to be “fairly balanced in terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be performed by the advisory committee,” the lawsuit states. The lawsuit was filed shortly after noon Eastern time in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, National Security Counselors told CBS MoneyWatch.
A coalition representing veterans, public health professionals, teachers and other groups also filed a suit Monday against DOGE, citing FACA and asking a court to block DOGE’s activities until it complies with law.
“The question every American should be asking is ‘What are they hiding?’” Skye Perryman, CEO of Democracy Forward, a legal organization representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement. “DOGE must not be allowed to operate in the shadows without the transparency, oversight, and opportunity for public participation required of any federal department by the law.”
The lawsuit alleges that, as a result, DOGE is in violation of FACA because “not a single member of DOGE is a federal employee or represents the perspective of federal employees, despite the evidence that DOGE intends to provide recommendations regarding federal employment practices and ways to reduce the size of the federal workforce.”
“Nobody disputes that there is a huge amount of wasteful spending in the federal government,” Kel McClanahan, the executive director of National Security Counselors, said in an email to CBS MoneyWatch. “Our only concern is that DOGE, as it is currently constituted, lacks the expertise to understand how its recommendations will backfire if it pushes federal workers out without understanding why they are there in the first place.
Executive Order Complication
The Washington Post note an Executive Order Complication.
“DOGE is not exempted from FACA’s requirements,” states the lawsuit, written by Kel McClanahan, executive director of National Security Counselors. “All meetings of DOGE, including those conducted through an electronic medium, must be open to the public.”
The lawsuit could be complicated by an executive order, which Trump is set to sign on Monday, that would designate DOGE as primarily working “within” the U.S. government, according to two people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to reflect private deliberations.
“If the Trump administration changes the structure of DOGE to be a government office, that would potentially moot the case,” McClanahan said. “But that would subject Musk and others to a whole bunch of ethics laws I don’t think they want to be subject to.”
Sam Hammond, senior economist at the Foundation for American Innovation, who has been supportive of DOGE’s efforts, said the initiative will primarily implement ideas within the executive branch and White House, which he said would exempt it from FACA requirements. If Trump does treat DOGE as a FACA, then it should follow the required reporting rules. But for now, he said, “DOGE isn’t a federal advisory committee because DOGE doesn’t really exist. DOGE is a branding exercise, a shorthand for Trump’s government reform efforts.”
Hammond added: “The president is allowed to take advice from external experts without creating a formal advisory committee.”
DOGE on Mars
The Wall Street Journal reports Elon Musk Sees a Fork in the Road of Human Civilization
An exuberant Elon Musk received a booming reception from a watch-party audience at Washington’s Capital One Arena as he cheered on an incoming Trump administration he helped secure with massive financial donations.
“This is what victory feels like,” the world’s richest man yelled after the swearing-in ceremony. “This was no ordinary victory. This was a fork in the road of human civilization.” Musk went on to say the nation would now have “safe cities,” “secure borders,” and “sensible spending.” He referenced the advisory group he will lead to look for ways to cut the federal government, saying, “We’re going to take DOGE to Mars.”
Sig Heil?
Politico reports Elon Musk’s Salute Goes Viral
Can I ask what that hell that is all about? Is that on purpose? From the facial expression it looks like it.
DOGE Infighting Underway
CBS News reports Vivek Ramaswamy Expected to Depart DOGE
Vivek Ramaswamy, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with entrepreneur Elon Musk, is expected to soon step away from the task force, CBS News has learned. Ramaswamy intends to announce a campaign for Ohio governor as soon as the end of January, multiple sources confirmed to CBS News.
People close to Musk have privately undercut Ramaswamy for weeks, frustrated with his lack of participation in the heavy lifting, according to sources familiar with the internal dynamics. There has been friction between the incoming rank and file DOGE staff and Ramaswamy, the sources said, and Ramaswamy has been subtly encouraged to exit.
“Vivek has worn out his welcome,” one person close to Trump said.
Ramaswamy recently met with the Ohio’s sitting governor, Mike DeWine, about the state’s Senate seat left vacant by Vice President-elect JD Vance. But on Friday, DeWine announced he is appointing his lieutenant governor to the post.
One Down Already
A friend commented “That’s one down and one to go. Effectively, it’s Trump’s first firing. I think Vivek is over. I do not think he will be the next governor oh Ohio.“
NBC reports Vivek Ramaswamy’s interest in running for Ohio governor isn’t scaring away other Republicans
Ramaswamy’s path was, in theory, eased Friday when Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, another Republican eyeing the governorship, to the Senate seat recently vacated by Vice President-elect JD Vance. But at least two other GOP officeholders with statewide name recognition — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and state Treasurer Robert Sprague — were already preparing their own campaigns for governor to succeed the term-limited DeWine.
Yost on Friday night also blasted out a text message to his followers promoting his trip to Washington, D.C., for Trump’s inauguration.
“As your next governor, I’ll work with President Trump to advance his America first agenda,” Yost wrote. “Look out for a special announcement soon about my candidacy for governor!”
Sprague, meanwhile, filed paperwork Friday with the Ohio secretary of state that specified he plans to seek the governorship — a move that a spokesperson confirmed was a prelude to an official announcement.
Vivek has served his usefulness and may now vanish into obscurity unless he wins the Ohio Governor’s race.
And if Trump endorses someone other than Vivek, it’s over.
DOGE Overpromised and Will Underdeliver
December 29, 2024: Team Trump Accelerates Social Security Insolvency, Where’s DOGE?
Republicans expand Social Security at a cost of $196 billion. Guess who benefits.
December 27, 2024: Can DOGE Cut $2 Trillion Out of $1 Trillion? What About Revenue?
The answer to the first question is obvious. So let’s discuss what’s reasonable.
January 10, 2025: Elon Musk Admits DOGE Can’t Find $2 Trillion In Budget Cuts
Anyone with an ounce of common sense knew that wasn’t possible. He won’t find $1 trillion either.