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| Musk Demands Impeachment of Judge Over DOGE Treasury Access Block |
Key Highlights
Elon Musk criticized a federal judge for issuing an order that restricts his DOGE team from accessing the U.S. Treasury’s payment systems and data.
Attorneys general from 19 states filed a lawsuit against President Trump, alleging he overstepped legal boundaries by granting Musk extensive access to the Treasury Department.
Musk has a history of accusing judges of corruption when rulings go against him, often calling for their impeachment.
Musk Clashes with Federal Judge Over Treasury Access Restriction
Tech billionaire Elon Musk is once again at the center of controversy, calling for the impeachment of U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer following a ruling that temporarily bars his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team from accessing the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s payment systems and classified financial data.
Taking to his social media platform, X, over the weekend, Musk expressed his frustration, labeling Engelmayer as “a corrupt judge protecting corruption” and demanding immediate impeachment. He also shared his broader vision for the Treasury Department, emphasizing his intent to overhaul government spending.
The Battle Over Treasury Access
Musk and his DOGE team, an initiative led by the billionaire under President Donald Trump’s administration, have been tasked with streamlining federal spending, slashing the workforce, and deregulating government agencies. Their latest target was the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an organization that handles foreign humanitarian assistance. DOGE reportedly sought access to Treasury payment systems to cut off USAID funding, raising concerns from legal and financial watchdogs.
The judge’s order came in response to a lawsuit filed by attorneys general from 19 states, who argued that Trump violated constitutional provisions by giving Musk and his team unfettered access to sensitive federal financial data. The lawsuit also named Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as a defendant, citing risks to national security and privacy.
Musk Fires Back, Critics Push for Compliance
Musk quickly denounced the ruling on X, stating, “This is absolute insanity! How are we supposed to eliminate fraud and waste if we can’t track where taxpayer money is going? This reeks of corruption.”
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, one of the key plaintiffs in the lawsuit, fired back, telling CNBC, “What’s truly concerning is a billionaire trying to break the law to seize control of millions of Americans’ financial records.”
The lawsuit alleges that Trump failed in his duty to uphold the law by providing DOGE unrestricted access to Treasury systems. Following the ruling, Musk even reshared a post on X suggesting his team should ignore the court order, escalating tensions between his supporters and government officials.
Legal Experts Weigh In
Vice President JD Vance defended Musk’s stance, arguing that courts should not interfere with executive decisions. “Judges can’t dictate military strategy, nor should they control how the executive branch uses its discretion,” he posted on X.
However, legal scholars disagree. Joyce White Vance, a professor at the University of Alabama School of Law, emphasized that courts have a long-standing authority to check executive overreach. She cited historical cases, including the landmark Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, in which the Supreme Court ruled against President Truman’s attempt to seize steel mills during the Korean War.
Duke Law professor Marin K. Levy echoed these sentiments, stating that the ruling was a standard judicial process aimed at preventing potential harm. “The court’s order is a temporary measure to ensure that irreversible damage does not occur while the case is being decided,” Levy explained.
Musk’s Ongoing Feud with the Judiciary
This is not the first time Musk has clashed with the legal system. He previously lambasted Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick after she ruled that his $56 billion Tesla compensation package was improperly granted. Additionally, he has been vocal against Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for enforcing social media regulations on X, a battle that ended with Musk paying fines and complying with Brazilian law.
The case challenging Musk’s access to Treasury systems, officially titled State of New York, et al v. Donald Trump, et al, is currently being heard in the Southern District of New York (Case No. 1:25-cv-01144-JAV). As legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen whether Musk’s efforts to reshape government operations will be halted or allowed to proceed under further judicial scrutiny.
