American Oversight Asks Court to Uncover Truth Behind DOGE’s Sweeping, Shadowy Power

On Monday, American Oversight filed a motion in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia seeking discovery into the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the controversial and opaque entity exerting unprecedented control across the federal government. With Elon Musk now retreating to his private companies — and an administration marred by the unlawful destruction of evidence in other contexts — the nonprofit watchdog’s work to quickly gather the facts about DOGE’s sweeping actions takes on new urgency.

American Oversight is asking the court to order DOGE to answer a series of targeted questions and produce key documents to determine whether the entity is subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Mounting evidence and the government’s own inconsistent statements suggest that DOGE, created by President Trump and led until last week by Musk (though Trump claims he’s “not really leaving”), wields sweeping independent authority far exceeding the government’s claim that it exists solely to advise the president.

“DOGE has clearly operated with significant independent authority — firing public servants, halting foreign aid, and accessing sensitive government systems — all behind closed doors,” said American Oversight Executive Director Chioma Chukwu. “This kind of sweeping, unchecked power demands transparency. The American people have a right to know who is making these decisions and how. The government cannot create powerful new bureaucracies and then hide them behind executive branch wordplay. If DOGE is shaping public policy, wasting taxpayers dollars, and directing federal personnel, then it must be subject to transparency under FOIA. We’re asking the court to ensure the truth sees the light of day.”

In its court filing, American Oversight outlines extensive evidence contradicting the government’s claim that DOGE is merely an advisory body. Public reporting has shown that DOGE has issued numerous directives to federal agencies, overridden decisions made by cabinet officials, and deployed a network of Musk-linked operatives to implement its agenda — often without White House knowledge or oversight.

American Oversight’s motion seeks a court order compelling DOGE to provide discovery, including answering interrogatories, responding to document requests, and providing legal admissions about its authority, operations, and leadership — potentially including depositions of DOGE leadership.
This case proceeds as the Supreme Court recently granted a stay in a related FOIA lawsuit brought by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, temporarily blocking an order requiring DOGE to produce records and sit for depositions. American Oversight filed an amicus brief in that case, urging the court to reject the Trump administration’s unprecedented attempt to shield DOGE and Musk from transparency.