Supreme Court to hear case over DOGE public records access

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 19:44 · Archive

The Supreme Court agreed to hear a dispute over whether a government watchdog group can access records from the Department of Government Efficiency.

The Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to hear a case involving Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington's attempt to obtain records from the Department of Government Efficiency under the Freedom of Information Act. The Trump administration has resisted the request, arguing that DOGE is not subject to FOIA because it operates within the Executive Office of the President and functions purely as an advisory entity.

CREW filed a FOIA request in early 2025 seeking information including DOGE's organizational chart and financial disclosures. A federal judge initially sided with CREW, ordering limited disclosure and allowing the group to take a sworn deposition of DOGE acting administrator Amy Gleason. The Trump administration appealed, and the Supreme Court previously set aside that lower court order.

The administration argues that subjecting advisory bodies to discovery would intrude on the confidentiality of presidential advisers. CREW counters that the appeals court properly complied with the Supreme Court's previous directions and that the public has a right to know how DOGE carried out a sweeping government overhaul. Arguments in the case are expected in early 2027, with a decision likely by summer of that year.

How it is being reported

• US Supreme Court agrees to hear watchdog case on Elon Musk’s DOGE recordsThe Trump administration argues that DOGE is exempt from freedom of information requirements.Al Jazeera · 13 Oct, 19:21
• Supreme Court takes up dispute over access to DOGE recordsThe Supreme Court agreed to take up a dispute involving a government watchdog group's attempt to get information from the Department of Government Efficiency.CBS News · 13 Oct, 14:54

In this story: Supreme Court · Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington · Department of Government Efficiency · Trump administration · Amy Gleason · Elon Musk

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