Connecticut AG: Musk’s DOGE work in 'utter violation' of Constitution, Appointments Clause
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said tech billionaire Elon Musk’s actions through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are in “utter violation” of the Constitution and its Appointments Clause.
Tong joined CNN on Tuesday to discuss the lawsuit he and 19 other attorneys general filed against President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to stop DOGE officials from gaining access to Americans’ confidential records.
“This suit is about stopping Donald Trump from letting an unelected billionaire, Elon Musk, and his army of tech bro wannabe storm troopers from tearing up the federal government and accessing sensitive information,” Tong said.
Tong and other attorneys general also filed another lawsuit that is before Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, D.C., looking to argue that Musk is unconstitutionally grabbing power and skirting the Appointments Clause.
The Appointments Clause requires officials appointed by the president to be subject to the “consent of the Senate.” Several of Trump’s nominees have undergone intense scrutiny by senators and gone on to be approved for their role. The suit argues that no one elected Musk and Congress did not authorize the creation of DOGE or its efforts related to the federal government.
“In the Constitution, it says if you exercise significant authority, you’ve got to be confirmed … nominated by the president, but confirmed by the Senate,” Tong said. “That didn’t happen here.
“His appointment, his work, is in utter violation of the U.S. Constitution and the Appointments Clause,” he added.
Tong also noted that Musk is the owner of X, a major social media platform. He is able to control how and what information gets shared to the American people.
“You’ve got an unelected billionaire running amok with unchecked power over information that’s vital to states, private information that belongs to people in this country and will do great damage to the United States of America,” Tong said.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
Topics
-
Musk and Trump are blatantly violating the Constitution
The White House has justified Musk’s authority under the label “special government employee.” The media has taken the bait to an alarming degree.The Hill - 1d -
Minn. AG among those challenging Musk, DOGE's authority in latest lawsuit
Attorneys general from 14 states are challenging the authority of Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency.CBS News - 6d -
Elon Musk’s DOGE Is Working on a Custom Chatbot Called GSAi
The chatbot is part of Elon Musk and President Donald Trump’s ambitions to use AI and other technologies to cut costs and modernize the US government.Wired - Feb. 7 -
Senate Democrat: ‘Musk is about subverting Constitution’
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) sharply criticized Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk for what he argued is “subverting the Constitution.” Wyden joined MSNBC’s Jen Psaki on Monday ...The Hill - Feb. 11 -
ACLU Warns DOGE’s ‘Unchecked’ Access Could Violate Federal Law
The ACLU says it stands ready to sue for access to government records that detail DOGE’s access to sensitive personnel data.Wired - Feb. 7 -
'More female and less white': Missouri AG accuses Starbucks of violating anti-discrimination laws
The lawsuit alleges that initiatives designed to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion ultimately amount to unlawful discrimination.The Hill - Feb. 13 -
Anti-ageing jabs – they can rejuvenate mice, but will they work on humans?
Senescent cells power the body’s ageing process, and scientists are developing treatments to annihilate them. At St Jude children’s research hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, an unusual clinical ...The Guardian - Feb. 8 -
Democratic AGs sue over DOGE access to Treasury payment systems
A coalition of 19 Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration Friday night over the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s access to Treasury Department payment systems that dole out ...The Hill - Feb. 8 -
Legal experts warn of 'constitutional crisis' as JD Vance and Elon Musk question judges' authority over Trump
Legal and constitutional experts warned Sunday that the United States could be headed toward a "constitutional crisis" or a "breakdown of the system" after Vice President JD Vance suggested judges ...NBC News - Feb. 9
More from The Hill
-
2 students arrested for allegedly plotting 'mass casualty attack' at Houston school, FBI says
Two high school students have been arrested for planning what authorities are calling a “mass casualty attack” at a Houston high school.The Hill - 46m -
IRS lays off 6,700 employees, torpedoing Democratic enforcement boost
The IRS fired 6,700 employees on Thursday, a government official told NewsNation, the sister television network of The Hill. The employees were designated as probationary, meaning they were working ...The Hill - 49m -
Trump administration to investigate California high-speed rail project
Federal officials will be investigating California's high-speed rail plans, with the goal of determining if a portion of the project merits $4 billion in taxpayer funds, the Department of ...The Hill - 1h -
Integrating Russia into the Western security framework is key to long-term stability
The West must make a difficult but necessary choice: to work towards a security order that includes, rather than isolates, Russia.The Hill - 1h -
New York sues major vape companies for targeting kids, teens
New York is suing some of the largest vape distributors for allegedly fueling the country’s youth vaping epidemic. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the lawsuit against 13 major ...The Hill - 1h
More in Politics
-
2 students arrested for allegedly plotting 'mass casualty attack' at Houston school, FBI says
Two high school students have been arrested for planning what authorities are calling a “mass casualty attack” at a Houston high school.The Hill - 46m -
IRS lays off 6,700 employees, torpedoing Democratic enforcement boost
The IRS fired 6,700 employees on Thursday, a government official told NewsNation, the sister television network of The Hill. The employees were designated as probationary, meaning they were working ...The Hill - 49m -
Trump administration to investigate California high-speed rail project
Federal officials will be investigating California's high-speed rail plans, with the goal of determining if a portion of the project merits $4 billion in taxpayer funds, the Department of ...The Hill - 1h -
Integrating Russia into the Western security framework is key to long-term stability
The West must make a difficult but necessary choice: to work towards a security order that includes, rather than isolates, Russia.The Hill - 1h -
Senate confirms Kash Patel to lead FBI
Politico - 1h