Elon Musk and DOGE efforts to close USAID likely unconstitutional, agency must be restored, judge rules 

A federal judge ordered the government to reinstate U.S. Agency for International Development systems on Tuesday, ruling that the accelerated shutdown of the agency led by Elon Musk “likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways.”

U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang ordered Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to reinstate access to email, payment, security notification, and all other electronic systems for all current USAID employees and contractors. He also ordered the department to provide written confirmation of compliance to the court within seven days.

“The court will require Defendants, within 14 days, to secure and submit a written agreement among all necessary parties that ensures that USAID will be able to reoccupy USAID headquarters at its original location, in the event of a final ruling in favor of Plaintiffs,” the order said.

He also ordered DOGE and Musk not to take any action regarding USAID without the express authorization of a USAID official with legal authority to do so. Chuang wrote that the limitation was warranted as it appeared DOGE and Musk appeared “to have been primarily responsible for the rush to shut down USAID.”

“DOGE has taken numerous actions without any apparent advanced approval by agency leadership,” Chuang said. 

Musk commented on an X post that was critical of the news, suggesting it was a partisan ruling by a Democrat-appointed judge, writing “indeed.”