Lawyer submits 'new evidence' in case against DOGE, using Trump's own words
Lawyers working on a case against the Department of Government Efficiency found new ammunition late Tuesday night in the form of President Donald Trump's own words during his joint address to Congress.
WASHINGTON — Lawyers working on a case against the Department of Government Efficiency found new ammunition late Tuesday in the form of President Donald Trump's own words during his joint address to Congress.
"I have created the brand-new Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE. Perhaps you’ve heard of it. Perhaps. Which is headed by Elon Musk, who is in the gallery tonight," Trump said.
The quote was quickly picked up by Kelly B. McClanahan, a lawyer in a case that centers on DOGE's legality and operations. McClanahan, who represents parties suing DOGE, entered a new court filing shortly after the remark highlighting it as "new evidence," emphasizing that Trump had affirmed that Musk was heading DOGE.
The filing is the latest push to determine who calls the shots in DOGE, as Musk appears to take a lead role despite not having been named the administrator. NBC News has reported that some legal analysts believe the lack of clarity around Musk's role could be intended to shield him and DOGE from lawsuits over its activities.
McClanahan wrote that Trump's comment "conclusively demonstrates that expedited discovery is urgently needed to ascertain the nature of the Department of Government Efficiency and its relationship to the United States DOGE Service, of which Amy Gleason is the Acting Administrator."
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