Top officials in the Trump administration are questioning the power of the courts to limit executive actions. This comes after a federal judge blocked Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing Treasury Department records. The judge’s ruling has sparked criticism from Musk, Vice President JD Vance, and other Trump allies.
Vance argued that judges should not interfere with executive decisions, comparing it to a judge trying to command a military operation. On social media, Musk called for the judge’s impeachment, accusing him of corruption. Musk’s department was tasked with finding government waste, and his team had planned to examine Treasury records. However, the court stopped this, citing legal concerns over privacy and government oversight.
The blocked records include sensitive personal data, such as Social Security numbers and bank details of millions of Americans. Nineteen Democratic attorneys general sued the Trump administration, claiming that Musk’s access to these records violated federal law. The judge’s decision temporarily prevents DOGE from viewing the data while the case continues in court.
The White House has strongly opposed the ruling. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller claimed that unelected government officials are controlling the country behind the scenes. President Trump also criticized the judge, saying no court should have the power to stop his administration’s actions.
The Trump administration has been working to cut government agencies and reduce the federal workforce. However, courts have blocked several of these efforts, including plans to buy out federal employees, put USAID workers on leave, and eliminate birthright citizenship. The latest ruling against Musk is another setback for the administration’s agenda.
Democrats see these events as a major constitutional crisis. Senator Chris Murphy warned that Trump and Musk are trying to override Congress, which controls government spending. He called on the American people and lawmakers to push back against these actions.
Meanwhile, Republicans continue to support Trump. Ohio Representative Jim Jordan criticized the court ruling and insisted that the president should have the authority to implement his policies. He predicted that legal battles over these decisions would continue for some time.
A court hearing on the case is scheduled for February 14. The outcome could have significant effects on the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the federal government.
