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More Lawfare: CT AG Tong And Coalition Sue To "Stop Elon Musk's Unconstitutional Power Grab"

By CT Centinal Staff
February 13, 2025
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Screenshot, CT AG Tong on Instagram

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Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and thirteen other attorneys general today filed a new lawsuit, arguing that President Trump has violated the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution by creating a new federal Department without Congressional approval and by granting Musk "sweeping powers over the entire federal government without seeking the advice and consent of the Senate."

“No one elected Elon Musk," complained AG Tong. "No member of Congress authorized the creation of his department or confirmed him to lead it. Donald Trump has allowed this unelected billionaire to worm his way into our government and your private records. We’re not going to let them get away with it.”

The lawsuit highlights how, with the President’s approval, Musk has "unraveled federal agencies" by seeking cost efficiencies and eliminating wasteful spending.

The complaint further asserts that Musk’s actions "violate the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which ensures that executive appointments are subject to congressional oversight and Senate confirmation."

“Musk’s seemingly limitless and unchecked power to strip the government of its workforce and eliminate entire departments with the stroke of a pen, or click of a mouse, is unprecedented,” the lawsuit states. “The sweeping authority now vested in a single unelected and unconfirmed individual is antithetical to the nation’s entire constitutional structure.”

The coalition argues that Musk's actions "threaten the financial and operational stability of the States by disrupting billions of dollars in federal funding essential for law enforcement, healthcare, education, and other critical services."

It further argues that the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education would "strip away federal civil rights oversight in schools, leaving states with uncertain legal authority to address discrimination cases involving students with disabilities and enforce Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and disability protections."

The coalition also alleges that DOGE operatives have "accessed federal financial databases containing sensitive state tax records and banking information without proper oversight, increasing the risk of cyberattacks, data breaches, and foreign exploitation."

"The manipulation of federal IT infrastructure by unauthorized individuals threatens not only state financial security but also the integrity of critical national systems. As reports of unauthorized access to Treasury databases emerge, citizens have expressed growing fear that their private financial data is at risk, leading to a chilling effect on participation in state-administered federal programs. The Plaintiff States are now forced to contend with both immediately," wrote the coalition.

The AGs seek a court ruling declaring Musk’s actions unconstitutional and an injunction barring him from issuing orders to any person in the Executive Branch outside of DOGE, as well as invalidating his previous actions.

The New Mexico Department of Justice leads this lawsuit with Arizona and Michigan as co-leads. Connecticut also joins New Mexico, Arizona, Michigan, California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Washington, and Vermont.  

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Lumpy

The governor of New Mexico is one of the most despised people in the state…

F D

We need wasteful spending audited in CT as well. Bring the DOGE team here.

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