Judge Finds Musk Role in USAID Closure Likely Violated Law
- Judge rejects administration claim Musk has little authority
- Ruling limited to actions related to foreign aid agency
Elon Musk at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 5.
Photographer: Al Drago/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
A federal judge ruled that Elon Musk likely exercised unconstitutional power in orchestrating the Trump administration’s efforts to shutter the US agency that manages foreign aid.
Although the decision on Tuesday is limited to the US Agency for International Development, it marks the most direct ruling to date regarding the lawfulness of the role that the billionaire chief executive officer of Tesla Inc. has occupied in the White House since President Donald Trump took office in January.