Judge orders Musk to sit for deposition over DOGE, USAID shutdown

"U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang wrote that there was "no alternative" to the depositions, citing plaintiffs' inability to obtain information through documents or lower-ranking officials, whose deposition requests went unanswered. Chuang also pointed to earlier rulings finding that Musk made decisions to dismantle USAID despite lacking formal authority or official approval. Zoom in: USAID's former workforce of 10,000 managed some $43 billion in appropriations and assisted approximately 130 countries with disaster relief and economic development in fiscal year 2023."

"The agency's programs prevented an estimated 91 million deaths over the past two decades, including 30 million children, according to a July study. Unraveling USAID's could contribute to more than 14 million deaths by 2030, roughly a third of which would be children under 5 years old, the study found. What they're saying: The White House referred Axios' comment to the State Department."

U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang found there was "no alternative" to depositions after plaintiffs could not obtain information through documents or lower-ranking officials whose deposition requests went unanswered. Chuang noted earlier rulings that Musk made decisions to dismantle USAID despite lacking formal authority or official approval. USAID formerly employed about 10,000 people, managed roughly $43 billion in appropriations, and assisted approximately 130 countries with disaster relief and economic development in fiscal year 2023. A July study estimated the agency's programs prevented 91 million deaths over two decades and warned that unraveling USAID could contribute to over 14 million deaths by 2030.

Read at Axios