Democrats on the US House Oversight Committee have called for an investigation into potential national security threats linked to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
In a letter sent Thursday, the lawmakers urged deputy inspectors general at several federal agencies to examine whether Musk’s team had unauthorised access to government systems and classified data.
The agencies involved in the probe include the US Treasury, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Department of Education, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the General Services Administration, and the Small Business Administration. The lawmakers allege that Musk’s team has accessed US payment systems containing personal data of millions of Americans, raising concerns over privacy and security.
“We are deeply concerned that unauthorised system access could be occurring across the federal government and could pose a major threat to the personal privacy of all Americans and to the national security of our nation,” the lawmakers wrote.
The letter also questioned the legitimacy of Musk’s role, stating that while he appears to have been granted “Special Government Employee” status, there is no evidence that he or his associates have undergone the necessary security vetting to access government data.
The lawmakers wrote, “Although Elon Musk appears to have been granted the status of ‘Special Government Employee’, there is no evidence that he, or any of his associates working under the ‘DOGE team’ moniker are entitled to access our government systems, nor is there any evidence that they have undergone the proper vetting to ensure the security of taxpayer and government data.”
The controversy follows the Trump administration’s recent decision to place USAID staff on leave, with Musk declaring his intent to shut down the agency, calling it “beyond repair.”
While Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment, a White House official said that Musk and his engineers hold the necessary security clearances and have permission to view payment data, though they lack the authority to alter it. The official maintained that Musk’s team operates “in full compliance with federal law” as employees of relevant agencies, rather than as external advisors.
The committee’s letter, led by Representative Gerald Connolly of Virginia, was directed primarily at deputy inspectors general, rather than inspectors general themselves, because the Trump administration had recently fired 17 independent watchdogs in what critics described as a late-night purge. However, USAID Inspector General Paul Martin remains in his position and was included in the letter’s recipients.
The lawmakers’ push for an investigation adds to growing concerns about Musk’s expanding influence over government operations and the potential risks associated with his team’s involvement in federal systems.
Melissa Enoch
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