DOGE-Related Dismantling of USAID Likely Violated Constitution: Judge

A federal judge said on March 18 that Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team likely violated the U.S. Constitution by moving to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Closing the USAID headquarters, laying off the overwhelming majority of the USAID workforce, and terminating most of the agency’s contracts violate the separation of powers established by the Constitution, because Congress outlined specific requirements for significant actions related to USAID and Musk and other officials have not complied with the requirements, U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang said in an opinion. Government officials had argued that dismantling USAID fit within the president’s authority to conduct foreign affairs....