Supreme Court Takes DOGE Records Case: Did DOGE Ever Give a Binding Order?
Did DOGE ever actually order anybody fired? The government is telling the Supreme Court that the DOGE office at the White House never gave a single binding order to any agency and only advised. On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether anyone gets to test that claim under oath.
How the Case Got Here
Early last year, the watchdog group CREW asked for DOGE's records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). By DOGE's own estimate, that meant 58,000 documents. A federal judge said a body that fires people, cancels contracts, and shuts down programs is likely an agency, and let CREW ask questions. In June 2025, the Supreme Court ruled six to three that the discovery was too broad and sent it back to be narrowed. CREW narrowed it, and the Court has now taken the case again.
What Is Still in Dispute
Two things remain on the table. The first is DOGE's final directives to agencies on who to fire and what to cancel, if they exist. The second is testimony under oath from Amy Gleason, DOGE's acting administrator. Her account is the government's only factual evidence that DOGE just advised, and the judge said parts of it appear to be "called into question by contradictory evidence in the record."
FOIA covers the Executive Office of the President by name, unless a unit's sole function is to advise and assist the President. One federal judge described DOGE as "a Goldilocks entity, not an agency when it is burdensome but an agency when it is convenient."
Why It Matters to Federal Employees
If the government's position holds, DOGE's records would not be agency records. They would be presidential records, off limits to FOIA while this President is in office and possibly for years after. That could lock away the paper trail showing who decided to cut your program, end your position, or access your data. Wanting to know who made the call is a reasonable thing to want.
What Happens Next
Nothing is decided. No argument date has been set, and a decision is likely by the end of June. A House bill, the CLEAR Act, would write organizations like DOGE into FOIA.
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Legal Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Federal employment situations are fact-specific and time-sensitive. Please consult a qualified federal employment attorney about your specific situation. You can contact Southworth PC at attorneysforfederalemployees.com.