A federal prosecutor, appointed by former President Donald Trump, has warned that anyone trying to stop Elon Musk’s efforts to make the government more efficient could face legal consequences.
This warning came in a letter posted on Monday on X (formerly Twitter)y. The prosecutor, Edward Martin, temporarily serving as the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., said that actions threatening or confronting Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees might break several laws.
According to Reuters, Martin wrote, “We will take legal action against anyone who interferes with your work or threatens your team.”
Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, thanked Martin for his support. This situation comes after reports that some government officials tried to block DOGE employees from accessing sensitive information. For example, Reuters reported that two security officials at the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID) were removed after they tried to stop DOGE representatives from entering secure areas. U.S. Marshals were even called in to handle the situation.
Additionally, The New York Times reported that a Treasury Department official tried to stop the DOGE team from accessing the agency’s payment system but failed.
Martin mentioned in his letter that his team worked with the DOGE team over the weekend, though he didn’t give details about what they did. He also asked Musk to report any suspicious behavior for possible investigation.
This is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to tighten control over government agencies. For example, last week, the Justice Department said it was investigating a New York sheriff’s office for releasing an immigrant living in the U.S. illegally. This is seen as part of a new policy to target state and local agencies that don’t follow Trump’s rules.
Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, is leading a push to drastically reduce the size of the U.S. government. He has already offered buyouts to many federal workers.
Meanwhile, Martin, as interim U.S. attorney, has been involved in controversial decisions, like dropping all criminal cases related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, following Trump’s orders.
Martin has also publicly supported Trump and criticized his political opponents, which is unusual for U.S. attorneys, who usually avoid making political statements.
This story, based on reports from Reuters, highlights the ongoing tensions between Trump-appointed officials, government workers, and Musk’s efforts to reshape how the government operates.
It also raises questions about the role of politics in legal and government matters.
Credit : Reuters