Suit Comes After Reports that DOGE Invoked Marshals to Access Federal Buildings and the Deputization of Elon Musk’s Private Security 

Washington, DC — Today, Democracy Forward filed a suit to compel the United States Marshals Service (USMS) to comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and release records of communication between USMS and Elon Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) and the judges overseeing cases related to the January 6th insurrection. 

The suit is in response to troubling reports of DOGE’s potentially inappropriate uses of USMS. That includes DOGE invoking threats to engage USMS when seeking access to agency buildings under questionable circumstances, Elon Musk’s private security guards being deputized by USMS, and USMS inappropriately communicating with federal judges on pending cases related to January 6th. 

This litigation comes after multiple FOIA requests from Democracy Forward were unanswered by USMS and the administration within the time period required by law. 

“The United States Marshals Service plays a critical role in enforcing court orders, which couldn’t be more important as the courts continue to serve as a bulwark against the Trump administration’s abuses of power,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “The American people deserve for the USMS to fulfill its role protecting their interests, not for it to act as the personal security force in DOGE and Elon Musk’s campaign of government overreach.” 

The complaint is available here.

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Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.