Appeals Court Blocks Musk From Testifying About DOGE, Saying It Is Too Soon to Compel His Testimony

A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that Elon Musk does not have to testify about his former role with the Department of Government Efficiency, saying it is too soon in the legal proceedings to compel his testimony. The ruling gives Musk a temporary reprieve from a growing roster of lawsuits challenging the constitutionality and operations of DOGE, which slashed federal spending and eliminated thousands of government positions during its brief but turbulent existence. Critics had sought to force Musk onto the stand to explain how decisions were made about which agencies and programs to cut, arguing that the tech billionaire wielded extraordinary governmental power without accountability. The appeals court's decision does not end the litigation but delays what would have been one of the most high-profile depositions in recent memory — a tech mogul being questioned under oath about his role reshaping the federal government.