Federal Lawsuit Challenges Elon Musk-Led DOGE's Actions Against U.S. Development Agencies

Ward Brehm, head of the U.S. African Development Foundation, accuses DOGE of unconstitutional overreach in dismantling independent federal agencies.

Ward Brehm, president of the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF), has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), alleging unconstitutional actions aimed at shutting down his agency and the Inter-American Foundation (IAF).
The lawsuit details DOGE's use of U.S. Marshals to force entry into the USADF headquarters and subsequent efforts to dismantle the agency, including attempts to access sensitive systems and dismiss personnel.
DOGE operatives, led by Pete Marocco, reportedly bypassed legal requirements, falsely claimed board dismissals, and unilaterally appointed Marocco as the head of both USADF and IAF without Senate confirmation, as required by law.
A federal judge issued a temporary stay, preventing the removal of Brehm and the appointment of Marocco, with an initial hearing scheduled for March 11 to address these allegations.
This lawsuit is one of several challenging the legality of Elon Musk's appointment to lead DOGE and the agency's actions, which critics argue violate constitutional and statutory limits on federal authority.