Summary

Despite Elon Musk’s claims of “maximal transparency,” the Trump administration now argues that records from DOGE are exempt from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

A court filing states DOGE, rebranded from the U.S. Digital Service, is a “free-standing component” of the Executive Office of the President and falls under the Presidential Records Act.

Watchdog groups have sued, arguing that DOGE’s activities, which involve sweeping access to federal agencies, must be publicly accessible.