Press Release
February 19, 2025
WASHINGTON – A group of government employees and legal advocates dedicated to maintaining the rule of law filed for a preliminary injunction in a case that asserts Elon Musk’s actions are in violation of the United States Constitution’s Appointments Clause. If granted, the preliminary injunction will block Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from violating privacy and security laws by demanding unauthorized access to sensitive data and using their powers to target, threaten, and remove federal employees.
The group of employees is represented by State Democracy Defenders Fund (SDDF) and Marziani, Stevens & Gonzalez PLLC (MSG), who filed the case last week.
“Elon Musk and DOGE are creating ongoing threats to the plaintiffs’ physical and digital safety and creating threats to their families and countless other federal employees. In fact, some of our USAID clients are literally stranded in dangerous places without access to crucial safety apparatuses,” said Beth Stevens, an MSG partner. “These threats are increasing by the hour, in part because DOGE has been sharing USAID personal information on public websites alongside that of many others.”
“Elon Musk is wielding extraordinarily broad and unprecedented power in leading DOGE without constitutional authority,” said Norm Eisen, executive chair of State Democracy Defenders Fund. “Our government has rules to protect the American people from executive overreach. An unelected, part-time ‘special government employee’ cannot legally circumvent them. We can and will achieve accountability through the courts.”
The filings are available below:
State Democracy Defenders Fund is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to stopping democratic backsliding and restoring American democracy.
Marziani, Stevens & Gonzalez PLLC is a mission-driven law firm. We are rooted in Texas with nationally recognized legal expertise, uniquely positioned to provide exceptional representation in today’s dynamic political landscape.