In a trove of statements released late Thursday, federal employees said that the mass layoff was discussed in meetings they attended this month.

It will be the first time someone involved with DOGE is required to answer questions under oath from an attorney outside the government.

The Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency must present a representative to testify under oath at a deposition about the structure of the office, its authority and its work, a judge has ruled.

US District Judge John Bates highlighted the DOGE office's "unclear" structure and authority as keys to the legal decision.