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District Judge Tanya Chutkan held a hearing on a request from 14 states for a temporary restraining order seeking to curtail Musk’s power in President Donald Trump’s quest to downsize the federal government. Chutkan said she would rule within 24 hours. Trump appointed Musk to lead DOGE in a push to slash the federal workforce and reduce or end disfavored programs.
The administration dismissed probationary employees and Trump in an executive order told agency leaders to plan for “large-scale reductions.” Democratic attorneys general from 14 states had filed a lawsuit challenging what they called Musk’s “unchecked power.” The states are seeking to block D.