US EditionJudge Allows Release of Deposition Videos of 2 Former DOGE Staffers
The court ruled the Government failed to prove specific harm under Rule 26(c), maintaining public access to 25 hours of deposition videos despite alleged harassment.
- A federal court denied the Government's motion on March 24 to restrict dissemination of deposition videos featuring four senior federal officials, including DOGE team members Nate Cavanaugh and Justin Fox.
- The Government requested the protective order after depositions were posted on YouTube, claiming widespread circulation resulted in significant harassment and reported death threats against witnesses and their families.
- Rule 26 requires a "clearly defined, specific and serious injury" to justify restrictions on discovery dissemination, which the Court determined the Government failed to establish in this case.
- Plaintiffs, including the American Council of Learned Societies and Modern Language Association, may now freely disseminate the videos since they were not covered by the original protective order.
- The Court emphasized that embarrassment alone cannot override public interest when materials concern "elected officials and the performance of their governmental responsibilities," establishing precedent for government transparency cases.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Plaintiff Statements about Decision of Judge Colleen McMahon on DOGE Video Release
March 23, 2026 (New York, NY) — The American Council of Learned Societies, the American Historical Association, and the Modern Language Association welcome today’s ruling by Judge Colleen McMahon allowing video footage of depositions to be published online again. The depositions are evidence in a lawsuit to restore the function and funding of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). In her ruling Judge McMahon wrote, “[T]he testimony i…
Judge Reverses Order to Take Down DOGE Deposition Videos, Rules Public Interest Outweighs Harassment
Deposition videos from two former Department of Government Efficiency staffers were ordered to be released Monday in Manhattan, where a federal judge ruled that the risk of threats and harassment does not outweigh the public interest. U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon initially ruled on March 13 that the videos be removed from the internet after a government emergency filing which claimed academic groups suing to restore grants cuts by DOGE ha…
Judge allows release of deposition videos of 2 former DOGE staffers
Judge’s gavel (Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images) (WASHINGTON) — A federal judge is allowing the release of deposition videos of two former DOGE staffers, ruling that the risk of “embarrassment and reputational harm” is not enough to overcome the public interest in the videos. U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon on Monday lifted an earlier order requiring a group of nonprofits to remove the videos from the internet after lawyers with the Justice…
Judge Allows DOGE Deposition Videos Back Online
On Monday a judge said videos of recent depositions from DOGE members can be published online once again. The ruling is something of an about face for Judge Colleen McMahon, who originally ordered plaintiffs in the DOGE-related lawsuit “claw back” the videos they had published to YouTube. The videos were already massively viral at the time of that ruling, in part because they showed DOGE members Justin Fox and Nate Cavanaugh unable or unwilling …
Court Refuses to Block Continued Distribution of DOGE Witness Deposition Videos
"[T]he materials at issue concern the conduct of public officials acting in their official capacities, which substantially diminishes any cognizable privacy interest and weighs against restriction."
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
