Elon Musk's DOGE faces lawsuit minutes after Trump's inauguration

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, is facing legal challenges immediately following President Donald Trump's inauguration.

A public interest law firm, National Security Counselors, is set to file a lawsuit alleging that DOGE has violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972.

The complaint claims that DOGE has not adhered to transparency requirements mandated for federal advisory committees, including maintaining balanced representation and allowing public access to meetings.

Kel McClanahan, executive director of National Security Counselors, stated in the 30-page complaint that “DOGE is not exempted from FACA’s requirements,” emphasising that all meetings must be open to the public.

The lawsuit is particularly significant as it coincides with the early days of Trump's administration, marking a contentious start for one of its key initiatives aimed at cutting government waste and streamlining regulations.

Musk was appointed to lead DOGE in November 2024, with the ambitious goal of reducing federal spending by $2 trillion.

However, critics argue that the agency operates without proper oversight or accountability.

In addition to National Security Counselors, at least two other lawsuits have been filed against DOGE within minutes of Trump's inauguration, highlighting widespread concerns about its structure and operations.

These lawsuits assert that DOGE functions as a federal advisory committee yet fails to comply with legal stipulations regarding transparency and public participation.

Musk's political involvement has drawn attention from both supporters and detractors within the cryptocurrency community, particularly given the agency's acronym coinciding with Dogecoin (CRYPTO:DOGE).