Nessel’s suit fights back against Musk’s unprecedented power for a non-elected official under the guise of the Department of Government Efficiency

LANSING — In case you missed it, Attorney General Dana Nessel is once again standing up for Michiganders against Trump’s dangerous agenda that threatens their rights and freedoms. With the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk has been given constitutionally questionable and historically unprecedented power over Michiganders’ private information — without ever having been elected. 

Along with several other states, Nessel is fighting to rein in Musk and Trump’s blatant abuse of power to undermine our democracy and wield power without restraint. Unlike the heads of the Department of Education, State, Treasury, etc, Musk was never confirmed, never vetted by anyone — simply ordained by Trump. 

Again and again, Republicans have failed to push back against Trump’s outrageous agenda, but thankfully, Michiganders are not defenseless. In the face of obvious grabs for power, Michigan Democrats like Attorney General Nessel are constantly standing up for Michiganders and their families. 

Read more about Nessel’s suit below: 

Detroit News: Michigan AG Nessel leads multistate suit seeking injunction against Elon Musk, DOGE

• Attorney General Dana Nessel is leading a multi-state lawsuit that challenges the decisions and role of billionaire businessman Elon Musk within the Department of Government Efficiency that President Donald Trump established last month…
  
  
• Musk has “unprecedented and seemingly limitless access” to personal identifiable information and departments across government despite being an unelected and unappointed employee not subject to the advice and consent of Congress, Nessel said. DOGE’s actions are an “unconstitutional exercise of authority.”
  
  
• “I can think of few examples more egregious, really in history, than that that has been exhibited by Elon Musk and his Department of Governmental Efficiency associates,” Nessel said. The suit is being brought on behalf of the people of Michigan, meaning Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declined to sign onto the suit.
  
  
• The Nessel-led lawsuit, predicated on an alleged violation of the appointments clause, seeks a court order invalidating Musk’s directives and actions and restraining Musk from exercising further authority over other persons in executive branch offices and departments. The suit accuses Musk of “unraveling agencies, accessing sensitive data, and causing mass chaos and confusion” for state and local governments, federal employees and the American people” without proper legal authorization or supervision…
  
  
• Because Musk does not occupy an office of the United States and has not been officially nominated, “his officer-level actions are thus unconstitutional,” the lawsuit said. The suit also accuses Musk and DOGE of conduct in excess of authority…
  
  
• “If there were any doubt about the reach of Mr. Musk’s de facto power over Executive-Branch operations, his remarks delivered from the Oval Office on February 11, 2025 — with the President sitting in silence at the Resolute as Mr. Musk held the floor — should dispel it,” the lawsuit said.