Legal Action
J. Doe 4 v. Musk
Filed in: U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
Summary
A group of current and former U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) employees filed a class action lawsuit challenging Elon Musk’s authority as a “senior advisor” to President Donald Trump. The plaintiffs argue that Musk and the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), in making drastic reductions to the federal workforce and dismantling USAID, exercised illegal power over federal agencies in violation of the Appointments Clause and the Separation of Powers. The plaintiffs request the court declare Musk and DOGE’s actions unlawful, prevent them from taking further action to alter government agencies, and require the defendants to restore USAID’s funding and staff.
On Mar. 18, 2025, a district court entered an order grating a preliminary injunction. On Jun. 9, 2025, a circuit order granting appellants’ motion for abeyance was issued. Final resolution in this case remains pending.
Plaintiffs
- J. Doe 4, 7, 22, 27, 28, 29
Plaintiffs' Counsel
- Democracy Defenders Fund
- Marziani, Stevens & Gonzalez PLLC
- Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
Defendants
- Senior Advisor Elon Musk
- U.S. DOGE Service
- Department of Government Efficiency
- U.S. Agency for International Development
- U.S. Department of State
- President Donald J. Trump
- Secretary Marco Rubio
- Acting Deputy Administrator Peter Marocco
- Acting Director Jeremy Lewin
- Deputy Administrator Kenneth Jackson
- Acting Administrator Amy Gleason