In an effort to slash government spending, President Trump has asked the world’s richest man, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, to lead his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In turn, Musk and his team have spent the first few weeks of Trump’s second term waging a largely unchecked war on the federal bureaucracy — an onslaught that was finally challenged Thursday when a dozen states announced they would sue to block DOGE's access to government payment systems containing Americans' personal data.

Since taking office for his second term, President Donald Trump has issued a number of orders which included establishing the Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE. This program, led by Musk, has caused a stir by going through government programs to validate funding.

The National Security Counselors, representing federal employees and whistleblowers, has launched a lawsuit against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk. The legal action stems from a controversial move to grant DOGE personnel access to classified information traditionally reserved for those with security clearances and a specific need to know.