Elon Musk and DOGE: Are They Hacking the Government?
Elon Musk has acted with lightning speed to reshape the federal government, drawing criticism from many Democrats and even some Republicans who claim his actions are unlawful.
In the fast-paced world of tech, it’s said that Elon Musk has effectively “hacked” the government.
Despite never holding elected office or securing Senate confirmation for any high-level government role, Musk has, in just a matter of days, gained access to sensitive federal data. This access comes through his leadership of President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency project, known as DOGE. Musk’s involvement has allowed him to push an aggressive agenda that some fear could trigger a constitutional crisis.
Musk has fully embraced Silicon Valley’s “move fast and break things” philosophy, rapidly infiltrating federal computer systems and bureaucratic structures. Much like his dramatic takeover of Twitter in 2022, Musk has assembled a team to scrutinize everything from office leases and budget allocations to vendor contracts and even the performance of individual government employees—all with the goal of drastically downsizing federal operations.
With a team of engineers, some as young as 19, and the full backing of Trump, Musk has secured unprecedented access to critical government databases and the Treasury Department’s payment systems. This was made possible through a series of swift bureaucratic maneuvers that bypassed traditional oversight protocols.
Many Democrats, along with some Republicans, are raising serious concerns. They argue that Musk and his DOGE staff—none of whom are government employees or bound by federal ethics rules—are operating in secrecy, without accountability, and potentially outside the law. Critics claim this is part of Trump’s broader strategy to shrink the federal government.
DOGE, established by a Trump executive order on January 20, functions within the Executive Office of the President. Musk holds the title of “special government employee,” a temporary designation that grants him expanded access to government resources while exempting him from certain disclosure requirements mandatory for full-time federal employees.
Among DOGE’s first targets is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which recently closed its headquarters in anticipation of a complete shutdown. DOGE operatives are embedded within the Treasury Department, and Musk has publicly declared his intention to overhaul the Government Accountability Office and the Department of Education. Additionally, an individual with past ties to Musk’s SpaceX reportedly serves as an adviser to the FBI director.
Federal employees are already feeling the impact. The Office of Personnel Management has started offering “deferred resignations” and buyouts, echoing Musk’s controversial approach to restructuring Twitter. At USAID, over 1,000 staff members and contractors have been fired or furloughed due to a near-total freeze on foreign aid. Security leaders at the agency were placed on administrative leave after attempting to block DOGE staff from accessing secure systems, despite reports that some DOGE employees lacked proper security clearances.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has criticized Musk’s actions, accusing him of running a “shadow government” that jeopardizes essential federal services.
“If DOGE is targeting USAID today, what’s stopping them from going after the Postal Service, the IRS, or even Social Security tomorrow?” Schumer warned.
Musk has not responded to requests for comment.
The exact purpose behind Musk’s access to sensitive financial data, including Treasury records of government payments, remains unclear. However, Musk has openly discussed his plans on social media, suggesting he might cut federal jobs, cancel contracts, halt payments, or selectively release data to highlight what he claims is government waste. This mirrors his actions at Twitter, where he published internal company documents to support his claims of political bias under prior management.
Many lawmakers believe Musk’s actions are illegal, accusing him and Trump of attempting to unilaterally reshape the federal government while sidestepping both civil service protections and congressional authority.
“It’s a potential constitutional crisis,” said Brian Riedl, a former Republican Senate staffer now with the conservative Manhattan Institute. He expressed concern over Musk’s unchecked influence. “Someone with as much power as Elon Musk should be subject to Senate confirmation. There must be accountability to Congress and the American people.”
Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was even more direct.
“An unelected, unaccountable billionaire with massive conflicts of interest, deep ties to China, and personal vendettas is hijacking our government’s most sensitive financial systems,” she said at a Capitol press conference. “He’s illegally manipulating taxpayer funds based on conspiracy theories and whims.”
One of Musk’s most publicized examples of alleged government waste involves a dubious claim that $50 million in taxpayer money was spent on condoms for Gaza. The Associated Press has since debunked this claim, finding no supporting evidence.
Musk’s operations have been shrouded in secrecy. He has refused to disclose the identities of key DOGE staff members or provide details about their decision-making processes. Even the legal framework that supposedly justifies DOGE’s activities remains unclear. After critics began posting the names of DOGE employees online, Musk retaliated by accusing them of violating the law.