A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Elon Musk must sit for a deposition over his role in dismantling USAID while leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Axar.az reports, citing Business Insider, that judge Theodore Chuang rejected Musk’s attempt to avoid testimony under the “apex doctrine,” finding it unclear whether Musk and other DOGE-linked officials qualified as high-ranking government officials entitled to such protection.

The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by current and former USAID employees, who accuse Musk and DOGE officials of improperly shutting down the agency’s headquarters and website without sufficient justification. The judge said Musk and others failed to explain key decisions, making depositions necessary.

USAID was a central target of DOGE’s cost-cutting push during Trump’s second term, with staffing slashed from about 10,000 to 300. Musk stepped back from DOGE in May. Neither Musk nor the agencies involved commented on the ruling.