Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has intensified his calls for a “wave of judicial impeachments” following a series of court rulings that have obstructed key initiatives of the Trump administration. Taking to his social media platform, X, Musk lashed out at what he described as judicial overreach, particularly targeting U.S. District Judge John Bates, whose recent decision ordered the restoration of federal health datasets that had been removed. Musk criticized the ruling, alleging a conflict of interest and accusing the judiciary of interfering with executive authority.
The controversy stems from President Donald Trump’s executive order banning the government’s promotion of “gender ideology.” Judge Bates sided with Doctors for America, a progressive physicians’ group, ruling that the removal of critical health datasets violated federal law. Musk denounced the decision as part of a broader pattern of judicial activism designed to undermine Trump’s policies.
Musk’s ire extended beyond this case. He also called for the impeachment of U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer, who issued a preliminary injunction blocking DOGE from accessing Treasury Department records containing personal financial data of millions of Americans. The court order not only barred DOGE from collecting new data but also mandated the destruction of any records obtained since Trump’s return to office on January 20. Musk argued that such decisions were deliberately sabotaging efforts to eliminate fraud and inefficiencies within the federal government.
President Trump has echoed Musk’s frustrations, using his Truth Social platform to question why courts were blocking efforts to root out waste and corruption. “Why are judges forcing the government to continue making payments when there’s clear evidence of fraud? These decisions make no sense!” Trump wrote.
Some Republican lawmakers have already taken steps to act on Musk’s demands. Representative Eli Crane of Arizona announced that he has drafted articles of impeachment against Judge Engelmayer, accusing him of deliberately obstructing DOGE’s mandate by preventing access to Treasury Department systems essential for identifying fraudulent expenditures. Crane’s move signals growing momentum within the GOP to challenge judicial rulings seen as hostile to Trump’s policy agenda.
Meanwhile, a separate legal battle is unfolding between President Trump and Federal Election Commission (FEC) Chairwoman Ellen Weintraub. On January 31, Weintraub received a letter from the White House informing her of her termination. However, she has publicly rejected the legality of Trump’s attempt to remove her, arguing that there are established legal procedures for replacing FEC commissioners—procedures she claims have not been followed. Weintraub’s defiance adds another layer of tension between the executive branch and independent federal agencies.
These developments underscore the escalating power struggle between the Trump administration, the judiciary, and regulatory bodies. As the White House pushes forward with its policy initiatives, resistance from the courts and independent agencies continues to fuel political and legal confrontations. With Musk leading the charge in reshaping government operations, the battle over executive authority and judicial oversight is set to intensify in the coming months.