A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Elon Musk likely exceeded his executive authority in attempting to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), blocking further actions by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Judge Theodore D. Chuang of the U.S. District Court in Maryland issued a preliminary injunction, stating that DOGE’s shutdown of USAID “likely violated the United States Constitution.” The ruling prohibits DOGE from terminating additional contracts, grants, or employees and restricts its staff from sharing sensitive personal data.
“The court finds that Defendants’ unilateral actions to shut down USAID likely violated the United States Constitution,” Chuang wrote.
The decision is a major legal setback for Musk and could influence future court challenges against the Trump administration’s federal agency restructuring efforts.
Norm Eisen, executive chair of the State Democracy Defenders Fund, which backed the lawsuit, called the ruling a victory for government stability.
“They are performing surgery with a chainsaw instead of a scalpel, harming not just the people USAID serves but the majority of Americans who count on the stability of our government,” Eisen said.
The White House condemned the ruling, calling it judicial overreach.
“Rogue judges are subverting the will of the American people in their attempts to stop President Trump from carrying out his agenda,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said, adding that the administration plans to appeal.
Chuang’s ruling focused on Musk’s leadership at DOGE, citing multiple instances where President Donald Trump publicly stated that Musk was in charge of the office. The judge referenced Trump’s remarks in press conferences, interviews, speeches, and his March 4 address to Congress, as well as Musk’s social media posts suggesting control over DOGE’s actions.
“Musk has specifically expressed his desire to shut down USAID and has taken responsibility for the actions taken to do so,” Chuang wrote.
The judge also cited internal DOGE emails terminating USAID employees and noted that Musk appeared to be performing the duties of an agency head without Senate confirmation, a potential constitutional violation.
The attempted closure of USAID—led by DOGE officials—has been a key part of the Trump administration’s efforts to cut federal spending and reduce the workforce. USAID employees and contractors involved in the lawsuit reported losing access to critical systems and delays in reimbursements for travel and health expenses.
Chuang’s ruling directly addressed Musk’s role in shutting down USAID headquarters, removing its website, and terminating contracts and personnel.
The judge warned of potential harm from DOGE’s handling of sensitive personal data and ordered the agency to reinstate key systems.
While DOGE retains access to internal USAID employee data, the ruling bars the department from sharing it outside the agency.
This case sets a major legal precedent in the ongoing debate over executive authority, agency oversight, and constitutional governance.
