Updated May 23, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Supreme Court temporarily shields DOGE in transparency lawsuit

Avery Lotz

Elon Musk listens as reporters ask questions during a press availability in the White House. — Elon Musk listens as reporters ask President Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa questions during a press availability in the Oval Office on May 21. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The Supreme Court on Friday paused a federal judge's order that the Department of Government Efficiency provide a government watchdog group with documents about its work.

The big picture: Elon Musk, the face of DOGE's controversial overhaul of the federal government, had vowed "maximum transparency" for its work, which included mass firings and deep spending cuts. But Friday's order gives the billionaire's department a reprieve.

Driving the news: In a one-page order signed by Chief Justice John Roberts, the high court on Friday froze a D.C. District Court judge's finding that DOGE is likely subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued in a Wednesday filing to the Supreme Court that DOGE should be exempted from FOIA because it is an advisory body and not a federal agency.

What they're saying: "This is just an administrative procedure to allow the Court time to consider the case, as the deadline for discovery was fast approaching. This is an expected move. We hope to see the Court decide on the merits of the government's petition after the holiday weekend," Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which brought the suit against DOGE, told Axios in an emailed statement.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with comment from CREW.

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Supreme Court temporarily shields DOGE in transparency lawsuit

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