DOGE Will Allow Elon Musk to Surveil the US Government From the Inside | WIRED
Musk’s DOGE Scandal: How a Billionaire’s Crypto Project Allegedly Hijacked Federal Databases
On February 1, 2025, a shocking report revealed that Elon Musk’s controversial cryptocurrency project, DOGE, has been accused of seizing control of essential federal databases. This unprecedented move has raised alarms among government officials, cybersecurity experts, and political analysts, who fear it could undermine the integrity of critical government operations. The allegations suggest that Musk’s team locked career civil servants out of systems containing sensitive data, sparking concerns about transparency, security, and the potential for authoritarian overreach.
The controversy began when aides to Musk, who also serves as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), reportedly restricted access to computer systems managed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). These systems house the personal information of millions of federal employees, including Social Security numbers, payroll details, and other confidential data. An unnamed OPM official told Reuters that the lack of oversight has created “great concern” among staff, who are now unable to monitor or manage these critical systems.
“There is no visibility into what Musk’s team is doing with the data,” the official said. “This creates real cybersecurity and hacking implications.” The official added that the move could leave sensitive information vulnerable to breaches, putting millions of Americans at risk.
The same day, The Washington Post reported that David Lebryk, a longtime Treasury Department official, announced his retirement following a clash with Musk’s allies over access to federal payment systems. These systems handle over $6 trillion annually, distributing Social Security benefits, Medicare payments, federal salaries, and tax refunds. Lebryk’s departure has intensified fears that Musk and his team are attempting to bypass traditional government oversight to exert control over vital financial operations.
Critics argue that Musk’s actions are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to centralize power and weaken checks and balances within the federal government. Since President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, Musk has installed loyalists in key agencies, including the OPM and the General Services Administration (GSA). These appointments have raised concerns about the politicization of nonpartisan roles and the erosion of civil service protections.
“This is an aggressive push to sideline career civil servants and replace them with political loyalists,” said Don Moynihan, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan. “It makes it much harder for anyone outside Musk’s inner circle to know what’s going on.”
The situation has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers and government watchdogs. Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, warned that the Trump administration is using every available tactic to circumvent established civil service protections. “The victims here are the American people,” Connolly said. “Government services and benefits should be allocated by nonpartisan experts, not partisan hacks.”
Mark Mazur, a former Treasury official who served under Presidents Obama and Biden, expressed similar concerns. “The federal payments system has never been used to execute a partisan agenda,” Mazur said. “You have to really put bad intentions in place for that to be the case.”
The allegations against Musk’s DOGE project have also sparked a broader debate about the role of private actors in government operations. Critics argue that Musk’s involvement represents a dangerous blurring of the lines between public service and private interests. “Congress famously has the power of the purse,” wrote one analyst. “But it looks like DOGE is trying to snatch it.”
As the controversy unfolds, many are calling for immediate action to restore transparency and accountability. Cybersecurity experts have urged the administration to reinstate access for career civil servants and conduct a thorough review of the systems affected. Lawmakers, meanwhile, are pushing for hearings to investigate the allegations and ensure that federal operations remain free from political interference.
For now, the situation remains fluid, with more details expected to emerge in the coming days. What is clear, however, is that the allegations against Musk’s DOGE project have struck a nerve, raising fundamental questions about the future of governance in an era of increasing privatization and political polarization.
As one OPM official put it, “This is not just about data or systems. It’s about who controls the levers of power in our government—and whether the American people can trust that their interests will be protected.”
The stakes could not be higher. With millions of Americans relying on federal databases and payment systems for their livelihoods, the outcome of this scandal could have far-reaching implications for the nation’s security, stability, and democratic integrity.
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