Pressure is increasing on Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to comply with transparency regulations, as politicians, legal actions, and judicial rulings demand greater openness.
A lawsuit filed on Thursday is pushing DOGE to adhere to federal transparency laws, specifically the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which mandates that government agencies disclose records when requested. The lawsuit, filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, accuses DOGE of failing to properly respond to requests for information about its operations. The nonprofit argues that DOGE’s activities, particularly its efforts to cut government funding and staff, could have significant environmental impacts, and it is crucial to understand how the department operates.
This lawsuit is significant because it is the first to specifically seek to force DOGE to comply with transparency rules, despite the department being involved in over 20 lawsuits. The Center for Biological Diversity claims that DOGE’s lack of transparency is detrimental to the environment, citing the Environmental Protection Agency’s role in significant cuts facilitated by DOGE.
Under FOIA, any individual or group can request federal records, with certain exemptions for classified or sensitive information. However, lengthy delays in processing requests often lead to lawsuits, like this one, to compel the government to act. The lawsuit argues that DOGE’s rapid cuts to government operations, including the potential harm to environmental protections, should be transparent to the public.
In addition to the lawsuit, a judge ruled that four DOGE officials must testify under oath about the department’s activities and the accessibility of data. These legal developments follow a meeting where some Republican lawmakers called for greater transparency from DOGE in a discussion with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Despite Musk’s public claims of aiming for “maximum transparency” in reshaping the federal government, DOGE has operated largely in secrecy. Staff names and operations are often not disclosed, and key figures, like DOGE’s acting administrator Amy Gleason, were only made public more than a month after the department’s creation. Additionally, reports have emerged that DOGE staff used the messaging app Signal, which deletes messages after a set period, potentially allowing for easier destruction of records.
This legal pressure and ongoing calls for transparency suggest that DOGE’s actions, particularly under Musk’s leadership, are becoming increasingly scrutinized.