Elon Musk has openly criticized U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer following a controversial judicial ruling.
On Saturday, Judge Engelmayer decided that President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, spearheaded by Musk, could not access specific financial data housed within the Treasury Department, Newsmax reported.
The legal battle erupted when attorneys general from 19 states filed a lawsuit against significant figures including President Trump, the Department of Treasury, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The charge was that there was unlawful enhancement of data access for the staff of the DOGE.
Such measures were deemed temporary, set to last until a subsequent hearing this coming Friday. Judge Engelmayer's order specifically limited access for political appointees, special government employees, and those detailed from outside the Treasury.
This legal action included a noteworthy instance where a young DOGE associate, just 25 years old, had gained considerable access to pivotal Treasury files.
An additional directive from Judge Engelmayer mandates the destruction of any Treasury data already accessed by the aforementioned personnel since the commencement of President Trump's term on January 20.
Reacting to the decision, Elon Musk, who is not a federal employee or government official, voiced his strong opposition via posts on the social media platform X. Musk asserts that this decision displays clear judicial overreach and corruption.
Elon Musk exclaimed on X early Sunday: "A corrupt judge protecting corruption. He needs to be impeached NOW!" Musk continued to argue on Saturday that the judge's actions were those of "an activist posing as a judge."
Musk, at the helm of DOGE, aimed to reform and curtail governmental spending. However, DOGE does not yet possess the full authority of a government department as it lacks Congressional endorsement.
The criticism escalated with Musk claiming the decision severely hinders efforts to address government waste. He articulated this frustration in another post:
"This ruling is absolutely insane! How on Earth are we supposed to stop fraud and waste of taxpayer money without looking at how money is spent? That’s literally impossible! Something super shady is going to protect scammers."
Notably, President Barack Obama appointed Judge Engelmayer to his current role in 2011, illustrating his long-standing judicial background.
The dispute underscores growing tensions between innovative approaches to governance advocated by business figures like Musk and the traditional mechanisms of government and judicial oversight. It raises questions about the balance between necessary transparency and the protection of sensitive financial information.
The outcome of the follow-up hearing, scheduled for the upcoming Friday, is awaited with keen interest, as it will significantly affect the ongoing power dynamics between state entities and appointed bodies like DOGE.
This dispute not only stresses the complex interplay between different branches of government but also poses stark questions about the limits of access to sensitive information within the highest levels of the U.S. government's financial departments.
