In an effort to slash government spending, President Trump has asked the world’s richest man, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, to lead his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In turn, Musk and his team have spent the first few weeks of Trump’s second term waging a largely unchecked war on the federal bureaucracy — an onslaught that was finally challenged Thursday when a dozen states announced they would sue to block DOGE's access to government payment systems containing Americans' personal data.

Since taking office for his second term, President Donald Trump has issued a number of orders which included establishing the Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE. This program, led by Musk, has caused a stir by going through government programs to validate funding.

Here is a look at the legal questions arising from Musk's activities as he seeks to shrink the federal bureaucracy. WHAT IS MUSK'S ROLE? The White House says Musk is a special government employee, meaning he does not get paid and is only allowed to work 130 days or fewer in a year.