Dozens of lawsuits have challenged DOGE's work on various grounds including violating privacy laws and exceeding its authority, with mixed results. This ruling is one of the broadest yet.

Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco said President Donald Trump and his administration failed to get approval from Congress to initiate the cuts, which is required by the constitution.

A federal judge ordered a two-week pause, writing that a president must enlist the help of Congress “to make large-scale overhauls of federal agencies.”