US Supreme Court keeps Doge records blocked in watchdog group's challenge
WASHINGTON - The US Supreme Court extended on June 6 its block on judicial orders requiring the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) to turn over records to a government watchdog group that sought details on the entity established by President Donald Trump and previously spearheaded by his billionaire former adviser Elon Musk.
The court put on hold Washington-based US District Judge Christopher Cooper's orders for Doge to respond to requests by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington for information about its operations. The judge concluded that Doge likely is a government agency covered by the federal Freedom of Information Act (Foia).
The brief, unsigned order said that portions of one of the judge's decisions 'are not appropriately tailored' and that 'separation of powers concerns counsel judicial deference and restraint in the context of discovery regarding internal Executive Branch communications.' The court sent the case back to a lower appeals court to narrow the judge's directives.
The court's three liberal justices - Ms Sonia Sotomayor, Ms Elena Kagan and Ms Ketanji Brown Jackson - dissented from June 6's decision.
In a separate case, the Supreme Court on June 6 permitted Doge broad access to personal information on millions of Americans in Social Security Administration data systems while a legal challenge plays out.
Doge has played a central role in Mr Trump's efforts to downsize and reshape the US government including by slashing the federal workforce and dismantling certain agencies. The watchdog group, called Crew, said its intention was to shed light on what it called Doge's secretive structure and operations.
Mr Musk formally ended his government work on May 30 and his once-close relationship with Mr Trump has since unraveled publicly, a split that followed Mr Musk's recent attacks on the president's sweeping tax and spending Bill and played out dramatically on social media on June 5.
Crew sued to obtain an array of records from Doge through the Foia statute, a law that allows the public to seek access to records produced by government agencies. It sought information on Doge's activities over its role in the mass firings and cuts to federal programmes pursued since the Republican president returned to office in January.
The Trump administration contends that Doge is an advisory entity and not subject to Foia. In response, Crew sought information to determine whether Doge is subject to Foia because it wields the kind of authority of an agency independent of the president.
Mr Cooper ruled in April that Doge must turn over some records sought by Crew and that the group was entitled to question Doge official Amy Gleason at a deposition. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit declined on May 14 to put Mr Cooper's order on hold.
The administration urged the Supreme Court to act, saying that the judge's orders intruded on the powers of the executive branch and compromised the ability of a wide array of advisers to provide candid and confidential advice to the president.
Crew told the justices that siding with the administration in the dispute would give the president 'free reign' to create new entities that would 'functionally wield substantial independent authority but are exempt from critical transparency laws.'
In one of his decisions, Mr Cooper said Doge's operations have been marked by 'unusual secrecy.' In another, the judge said that the language of Mr Trump's executive orders concerning Doge suggests that it is 'exercising substantial independent authority.' REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
30 minutes ago
- Straits Times
US$4,000 gold possible as Fed cuts rates and US dollar drops, Fidelity says
Gold is up by more than 25 per cent in 2025, though the precious metal has traded within a tight range over the past few months. Melbourne – Gold could hit US$4,000 an ounce by the end of 2026 as the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates to cushion the US economy, the US dollar drops, and central banks keep expanding holdings, according to Fidelity International. Multi-asset fund manager Ian Samson said the firm remained bullish on the precious metal, with some cross-asset portfolios recently increasing holdings as prices eased from an all-time high above US$3,500 an ounce in April. Spot gold was down 0.2 per cent at US$3,308.39 per ounce, as at 0024 GMT. 'The rationale for that was that we saw a clearer path to a more dovish Federal Reserve,' Mr Samson said in an interview, adding that some funds had as much as doubled their 5 per cent allocation over the past year. Gold is up by more than 25 per cent in 2025, as uncertainty around US President Donald Trump's aggressive attempts to reshape global trade, conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, and central-bank accumulation buttressed gains. Still, the metal has traded within a tight range over the past few months, with demand for havens cooling a little as some progress in US trade talks eased fears about worst-case-scenarios for the global economy. 'Perhaps you're going to avoid the doomsday scenarios that were painted earlier in the year, but ultimately we're heading to a 15 per cent-or-so tax on about 11 per cent of the US economy – which is imports,' said Mr Samson, referring to Trump's tariffs. 'That's a pretty decent tax hike. You'd expect it to slow the economy.' Fidelity's bullish outlook for gold is similar to that from Goldman Sachs Group, which has made the case in recent quarters for an eventual rally to as much as US$4,000 an ounce. Still, others are cautious, including Citigroup, which forecasts weaker prices. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Thirty dead, over 80,000 evacuated, following heavy rain in Beijing World Trump says many are starving in Gaza, vows to set up food centres Business BYD tops Singapore car sales in first half of 2025 with almost one-fifth of the market Asia Giant algal bloom off South Australia devastates marine life, threatens seafood exports Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree to 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' to de-escalate border row Singapore ST Explains: What we know about the Tanjong Katong sinkhole so far Sport Dare to dream, urges Singapore's first International Swimming Hall of Famer Joseph Schooling Singapore 44 suspects under probe for involvement in SIM card fraud Fed officials are due to gather this week to set policy. While no change is expected at this meeting, chair Jerome Powell may face dissents from officials who want to provide support to a slowing labour market. A US slowdown would likely see the dovish camp gain more influence in guiding policy, with the US dollar tending to soften in environments of weaker growth, Mr Samson said. In addition, Mr Powell – whose term as Fed chair ends next May – will probably be replaced by someone 'more amenable' to lower borrowing costs as Mr Trump continues to lobby for interest rate cuts, he said. Non-yielding gold typically benefits when the US dollar softens and interest rates ease. Elsewhere, the world's central banks are likely to go on buying gold, he added, while growing fiscal deficits – particularly in the United States – would continue to reinforce the precious metal's appeal as a hard asset. 'Sure, gold has come a long way, but if you look at when gold's been in a bull market – like 2001 to 2011 – it annualised 20 per cent per annum,' he said. 'From 2021 to today, it's also annualising 20 per cent a year. So it's not necessarily, in the context of a bull run, massively overstretched.' BLOOMBERG
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Thai army accuses Cambodia of violating truce
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A truce agreement between Thailand and Cambodia had earlier come into effect in the early hours of July 29. Bangkok - Thailand's army accused Cambodia of violating the countries' hours-old truce agreement on July 29, saying clashes continued despite a deal to pause combat along their jungle frontier. Following peace talks in Malaysia on July 28, both sides agreed an unconditional ceasefire would start at midnight to end fighting over a smattering of ancient temples in disputed zones along their 800km border. 'At the time the agreement took effect, the Thai side detected that Cambodian forces had launched armed attacks into several areas within Thai territory,' said Thai army spokesman Winthai Suwaree. 'This constitutes a deliberate violation of the agreement and a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust, he added in a statement. 'Thailand is compelled to respond appropriately, exercising its legitimate right to self-defence.' A truce agreement between Thailand and Cambodia had earlier come into effect in the early hours of July 29, testing whether it will halt five days of open combat that have engulfed their jungle-clad frontier. Both sides agreed an 'unconditional' ceasefire would start at midnight on July 28 to end battling over a smattering of ancient temples in disputed zones along their 800km border. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Thirty dead, over 80,000 evacuated, following heavy rain in Beijing, Xinhua reports World Trump says many are starving in Gaza, vows to set up food centres Business BYD tops Singapore car sales in first half of 2025 with almost one-fifth of the market Asia Giant algal bloom off South Australia devastates marine life, threatens seafood exports Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree to 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' to de-escalate border row Singapore ST Explains: What we know about the Tanjong Katong sinkhole so far Sport Dare to dream, urges Singapore's first International Swimming Hall of Famer Joseph Schooling Singapore 44 suspects under probe for involvement in SIM card fraud In Cambodia's Samraong city – 20km from the border – an AFP journalist heard a steady drumbeat of artillery strikes throughout July 28, before blast sounds stopped in the 30 minutes leading up to midnight, with the lull continuing for 30 minutes after. Elsewhere, Cambodia's Preah Vihear province, which has seen some of the most intense combat, was still quiet 20 minutes after the truce was scheduled to begin, its governor Kim Rithy said on Facebook. Jets, rockets and artillery have killed at least 38 people since July 24 and displaced nearly 300,000 more – prompting intervention from US President Donald Trump over the weekend. The flare-up was the deadliest since violence raged sporadically from 2008-2011 over the territory, claimed by both because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907. The peace deal is set to see military commanders from both sides meet at 7am, before a cross-border committee is convened in Cambodia to further salve tensions on Aug 4. 'When I heard the news I was so happy because I miss my home and my belongings that I left behind,' Mr Phean Neth said on July 28 evening at a sprawling camp for Cambodian evacuees on a temple site away from the fighting. 'I am so happy that I can't describe it,' said the 45-year-old. Good faith A joint statement from both countries – as well as Malaysia which hosted the peace talks – said the ceasefire was 'a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security'. A spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement on July 28 evening that 'he urges both countries to respect the agreement fully and to create an environment conducive to addressing long-standing issues and achieving lasting peace'. Both sides are courting Mr Trump for trade deals to avert his threat of eye-watering tariffs, and the US State Department said its officials had been 'on the ground' to shepherd peace talks. The joint statement said China also had 'active participation' in the talks, hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister and Asean bloc chair Anwar Ibrahim in his country's administrative capital Putrajaya. Mr Hun Manet thanked Mr Trump for his 'decisive' support, while his counterpart, Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, said it should be 'carried out in good faith by both sides'. 'If they say they'll stop firing, they must stop completely,' said 43-year-old Thai evacuee Prapakarn Samruamjit in the city of Surin. Post-truce tariff deals Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn marked his 73rd birthday on July 28, but a notice in the country's Royal Gazette said public celebrations scheduled for Bangkok's Grand Palace had been cancelled amid the strife. Each side had already agreed to a truce in principle, while accusing the other of undermining peace efforts and trading allegations about the use of cluster bombs and targeting of hospitals. Thailand says 11 of its soldiers and 14 civilians have been killed, while Cambodia has confirmed only eight civilian and five military deaths. More than 138,000 people have fled Thailand's border regions, while around 140,000 have been driven from their homes in Cambodia. AFP
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
World's biggest passenger planes keep breaking down
SYDNEY – The world's largest commercial passenger jet, the Airbus A380, enjoyed an unexpected resurgence hauling full loads of passengers when global travel rebounded after the Covid-19 pandemic. But keeping the ageing superjumbo safely airborne is becoming an increasingly expensive headache for airlines. Two decades after its maiden flight, regulatory bulletins ordering repairs, inspections or replacement parts for the massive four-engined plane are piling up. While some are procedural, such as a demand for timely equipment checks, others are more serious. Leaking escape slides, cracked seals and a ruptured landing-gear axle feature among 95 airworthiness directives for the A380 listed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency since January 2020. That's about double the number of directives for large Boeing aircraft in the same period. With newer, more fuel-efficient jets in short supply, airlines committed to the twin-deck A380 have little choice but to keep flying it. In its youth, the A380 was a triumph of international collaboration, with four million parts made by 1,500 companies worldwide. Now, in old age, the aircraft's complexity is testing aviation's fractured supply chains in the post-Covid era. 'The A380 is a complex aeroplane whose scale does make it more demanding to maintain compared to other aircraft,' the European Union Aviation Safety Agency said in a statement. 'It is very important for safety that there is no stigma attached to publishing an airworthiness directive -– safety must come first.' The agency said such directives, which mandate actions to make an aircraft safe, 'can vary hugely in scope and urgency.' The volume of airworthiness directives for different planes 'is not a good basis for comparison,' EASA said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump says many are starving in Gaza, vows to set up food centres Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree to 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' to de-escalate border row World US, China hold new talks on tariff truce, easing path for Trump-Xi meeting Asia Giant algal bloom off South Australia devastates marine life, threatens seafood exports Sport Dare to dream, urges Singapore's first International Swimming Hall of Famer Joseph Schooling Singapore 44 suspects under probe for involvement in SIM card fraud Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole: Road recovery works progressing steadily, tests under way Singapore ST Explains: What we know about the Tanjong Katong sinkhole so far Stranded passengers However, with the capacity to carry 485 passengers or more, delays caused by mechanical failures can be costly and create a cascade of scheduling headaches. A Qantas Airways A380 on the flagship Sydney-London route broke down in Singapore on May 7 with fuel-pump problems. The onward flight to London was pushed back more than 24 hours and passengers accommodated in hotels. That was at least the second fuel-pump issue to delay QF1 in Singapore since Qantas reactivated its A380s. More recently, Qantas passengers who were due to depart Singapore on July 14 for Sydney on an A380 were delayed for days because of technical difficulties. Plans to retrieve them sooner were complicated by damage to another A380 at Sydney airport, when an aerobridge slammed into one of the engines. A British Airways A380, G-XLEB, recently spent more than 100 days in Manila. After returning to London Heathrow in mid-June, it flew just seven days of the next 30, according to Flightradar24. Still, British Airways from 2026 will embark on an interior upgrade programme, including overhauling A380 cabins, suggesting the airline will keep flying the plane for years. For airlines using the A380, large-capacity alternatives are scarce. Boeing's new 777X is years behind schedule and Airbus can't make long-haul A350s fast enough. Meanwhile, A380 operators are left with an out-of-production superjumbo that will only become more needy and more expensive to run. In online aviation forums, some services are gaining a name for breakdowns, cancellations or overnight delays. In a statement, Airbus said the A380 'continues to operate scheduled services with a high level of operational reliability, standing at 99 per cent for the global fleet over the past 12 months. Airbus is committed to providing full technical support to customers to ensure that they can optimize operations with their A380 fleets, and this will continue as long as the aircraft remains in service.' 60,000 hours Meanwhile, A380s are taking up space and manpower in workshops around the world, exacerbating a shortage of repair facilities for the wider commercial fleet. A comprehensive check of the massive plane can consume 60,000 hours of labour, according to aircraft repairer Lufthansa Technik. Qantas is sending some double-deckers to Dresden in Germany to be overhauled; British Airways flies its to Manila for repairs; and Emirates, the world's biggest operator of A380s, maintains some in China. Supply chain constraints have increased the price of parts, servicing and engine repairs on all major aircraft, said Eddy Pieniazek, Ishka's head of advisory. 'With the A380 being of its size and having four engines, this escalation in maintenance costs has become even more noticeable,' said Mr Pieniazek. In a statement, British Airways called the A380 'a vital part of our long-haul fleet. Through working closely with Airbus, we've seen consistent year-on-year improvements in its reliability.' Qantas said the plane 'is a key part of our international network, and we'll continue to fly them for years to come. All Qantas A380s have gone through a scheduled major maintenance overhaul in recent years, as well as significant upgrades to the cabin interiors.' Asiana Airlines said 'issues related to aircraft operations and maintenance are difficult to disclose externally.' Korean Air Lines said it 'maintains its A380 fleet to the highest safety standards, in strict accordance with all regulatory requirements and manufacturer guidelines.' Singapore Airlines said its 12 A380s are important to operations but it was 'unable to comment on specifics.' The company said it works closely with 'Airbus and our suppliers to ensure the ongoing reliability and serviceability of our A380 fleet.' To be sure, the A380 still has fans. Emirates, which has cannibalized some A380s for spare parts, plans to keep flying the aircraft until the end of the next decade. The airline's president, Tim Clark, has likened the jet to a huge vacuum cleaner capable of gobbling up passengers like no other plane. BLOOMBERG
