...
By Sonam Sheth
Evening Politics Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The acting U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. threatened legal action on Monday against anyone who "impedes" the Department of Government Efficiency's work or "threatens" its people.
Why It Matters
The acting U.S. attorney stepped in after DOGE chief Elon Musk and his allies faced sharp blowback for taking over operations in multiple government agencies over the last few days, including the U.S. Treasury, the General Services Administration and the Office of Personnel Management.
Read More on Politics
Together, the three departments make up the backbone of the U.S. financial system and contain sensitive payment information related to trillions of dollars in federal disbursements, as well as personal identifying information about tens of thousands of government employees.
Musk's team, which includes several recent college graduates with no government experience, also hamstrung the U.S. Agency for International Development and the SpaceX CEO said Monday he is working to shut down the agency "beyond repair." USAID is a congressionally authorized agency and cannot be shuttered without approval from Congress.
...
What To Know
The U.S. attorney's office in Washington, D.C. worked with DOGE over the weekend, acting U.S. attorney Ed Martin said in a letter to Musk.
"I recognize that some of the staff at DOGE has been targeted publicly," Martin said. "At this time, I ask that you utilize me and myself staff to assist in protecting the DOGE work and the DOGE workers. Any threats, confrontations, or other actions in any way that impact their work may break numerous laws."
Martin did not elaborate on what the alleged threats were and which laws they may violate.
"Let me assure you of this: we will pursue any and all legal action against anyone who impedes your work or threatens your people," Martin's letter said.
He also took a swipe at the Biden administration, saying his office "will not act like the previous administration who looked the other way as the Antifa and [Black Lives Matter] rioters as well as thugs with guns trashed our capital city."
Republicans have repeatedly referred to Black Lives Matter protesters as "thugs" and suggested they should have been arrested over the George Floyd protests in 2020. President Donald Trump and his allies have also suggested, without evidence, that some of those who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021 were undercover FBI agents and Antifa agitators.
Martin's letter mentioned last week's indictment of a former Federal Reserve senior adviser who's accused of stealing U.S. trade secrets to help China.
"Please be very aware that there are those who are acting against our American people in every way," Martin said. "Refer to us any questionable conduct of details that you find or notice."
What People Are Saying
Musk said during an X Spaces event that the Trump administration is on the verge of shutting down USAID: "It became apparent that it's not an apple with a worm in it. What we have is just a ball of worms. You've got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It's beyond repair...We're shutting it down."
Trump appeared to rein in Musk on Monday, telling reporters: "Elon can't do, and won't do, anything without our approval."
What Happens Next
Musk's team is continuing its push to gain access to federal agencies' systems; PBS Newshour reported Monday DOGE now has access to all Small Business Administration systems, including human resources, contract and payment systems.
USAID, meanwhile, will be fully merged into the U.S. State Department and see significant cuts to its workforce, CBS News reported, citing three U.S. officials. The officials said the agency will continue being a humanitarian aid entity, amid reports of agency personnel, including those in active war zones, being locked out of USAID systems.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines