The National Security Counselors, a public interest law firm, is filing a lawsuit against the 'Department of Government Efficiency' (DOGE), a non-governmental entity launched by President-elect, alleging that it operates unlawfully as a 'federal advisory committee' (FACA) without adhering to required regulations.
Vivek Ramaswamy (left), Rep. Kat Cammack and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, as seen on December 5, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The public interest law firm National Security Counselors says it will file a lawsuit in federal court challenging the “Department of Government Efficiency,” a nongovernmental entity spearheaded by President-elect.
The complaint alleges that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) meets the requirements to be considered a “federal advisory committee” — groups that are known as FACAs — and therefore must follow regulations outlined in a 1972 law governing how FACAs operate. FACAs must, for example, file a charter with Congress, keep regular minutes of meetings, and ensure meetings are open to the public. DOGE doesn’t appear to have taken those steps, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also accuses DOGE for failing to adhere to FACA requirements, which stipulate that “membership of the advisory committee be fairly balanced in terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be performed by the advisory committee.” To help remedy this, the co-presidents of Public Citizen — Lisa Gilbert and Robert Weissman — last week requested that the Trump transition team co-chairs “As things stand, DOGE’s membership falls far short of satisfying FACA’s fair-balance requirement,” the two wrote. They also point out that the duo tapped to lead DOGE, billionaire and GOP megadonorthat “we’re not trying to say DOGE can’t exist. Advisory committees like DOGE have been around for decades. We’re just saying that DOGE can’t exist without following the law.” spoke with, Sam Hammond of the Foundation for American Innovation — who has been a fan of DOGE’s efforts — told the paper that until Trump actually treats DOGE as a FACA, it doesn’t need to follow FACA reporting rules. “DOGE isn’t a federal advisory committee because DOGE doesn’t really exist. DOGE is a branding exercise, a shorthand for Trump’s government reform efforts,” he said.indicates that DOGE is more than just a branding exercise. Citing anonymous sources, the outlet reported that aides with DOGE have spoken to staffers at more than a dozen federal agencies to “begin preliminary interviews that will shape the tech executives’ enormous ambitions to tame Washington’s sprawling bureaucracy.” There has also been a hiring sprint. DOGE is aiming to have nearly 100 staff in place by Trump’s inauguration, according to the paper.Looking to the first year of Trump’s presidency, we know that the most vulnerable among us will be harmed. Militarized policing in U.S. cities and at the borders will intensify. The climate crisis will deteriorate further. The erosion of free speech has already begun, and we anticipate more attacks on journalism. It will be a terrifying four years to produce social justice-driven journalism. But we’re not falling to despair, because we know there are reasons to believe in our collective power.are part of the antidote to creeping authoritarianism. And this year, we promise we will kick into an even higher gear to give you truthful news that cuts against the disinformation, vitriol, hate and violence. We promise to publish analyses that will serve the needs of the movements we all rely on to survive the next four years, and even build for the future. We promise to be responsive, to recognize you as members of our community with a vital stake and voice in this work.This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.Inauguration Day is here, and your support is critical as Truthout uses all its resources to confront Trump's fascism from Day One. If you can spare a few dollars, please start a monthly donation today
Trump DOGE Department Of Government Efficiency FACA Lawsuit Federal Advisory Committee Government Reform
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump Appoints Controversial Florida Influencer Katie Miller to Department of Government EfficiencyFormer White House press secretary and close ally of Donald Trump, Katie Miller, has been appointed to a yet-to-be-defined role in the newly established Department of Government Efficiency. Miller, known for her right-wing views and past controversies, is married to Stephen Miller, Trump's upcoming deputy chief of policy. This appointment continues Trump's trend of appointing Floridians to his administration.
Read more »
Bill Maher Curious About Elon Musk's Impact on Department of Government EfficiencyComedian Bill Maher discusses Elon Musk's involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and his proposed strategies for reducing government waste.
Read more »
Bill Maher 'Curious' About Elon Musk's Impact on Department of Government EfficiencyComedian Bill Maher expressed curiosity about Elon Musk's role in the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), particularly his plans to eliminate waste in the federal government. Maher cited Musk's proposal to have government employees return to work and anticipate a 20% workforce reduction as a potential positive step. He also highlighted Musk's critique of the trillion-dollar fighter jet program, arguing its obsolescence and questioning the rationale for continued funding.
Read more »
Bill Maher 'Curious' to See What Elon Musk Will Do at Department of Government EfficiencyComedian Bill Maher expressed curiosity about Elon Musk's role as co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), questioning how influential he will be in eliminating waste within the federal government. Maher highlighted Musk's proposed plans, such as requiring government employees who have been working from home to return to the office and expecting a 20% attrition rate, and his critique of excessive spending on obsolete fighter jets.
Read more »
Public Citizen Leaders Seek Appointment to Trump's 'Department of Government Efficiency'Public Citizen co-presidents Robert Weissman and Lisa Gilbert have requested to be appointed to the Trump administration's newly formed 'Department of Government Efficiency' (DOGE). They argue that their experience advocating for consumer and public interests would offer a valuable counterbalance to potential conflicts of interest from other appointees, such as Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Weissman and Gilbert also emphasize their commitment to evidence-based efficiency proposals that would save taxpayers money and promote public investments in areas like human development and climate change.
Read more »
Public Citizen Co-Presidents Request Appointment to 'Department of Government Efficiency'Public Citizen co-presidents Robert Weissman and Lisa Gilbert have penned a letter to Trump transition co-chairs, urging their appointment to the newly formed 'Department of Government Efficiency' (DOGE). They argue that their experience advocating for consumer and public interests would provide a valuable, unbiased perspective to the department, contrasting with potential conflicts of interest posed by other appointees like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
Read more »