WASHINGTON, D. C.- Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, a part of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is raising concerns that Elon Musk’s access to labeled government data and Americans ‘ personal information could create a national security threat. He and a group of Legislators are urging the White House to take steps to mitigate security risks posed by unauthorized DOGE team members access to sensitive government systems and classified documents.
What we know:
Sen. Ossoff and a group of Senators have urged the White House to define who has been hired under DOGE, the power that it has in place, and how team members are checked before being allowed to access secret documents.
No details about who has been formally hired under DOGE, what laws or regulations are in place, or how DOGE is vetting and monitoring its employees before giving them allegedly unfettered access to classified data and Americans ‘ personal information, Ossoff and his colleagues wrote in their investigation.
The problems come in response to reports in the media that unvetted DOGE inspectors have accessed confidential intelligence documents, the Treasury Department’s Social Security and Medicare payment systems, and national personnel records obtained from the Office of Personnel Management.
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The Senators warned that DOGE’s security failures—such as allowing employees to use specific devices on safe networks—make it easier for hackers to utilize vulnerabilities, putting Americans ‘ Social Security numbers, banking details, and private data at risk.
” As you may well know, information is kept secret to safeguard the United States ‘ national security interests. Government employees and contractors only get access to this information after going through a thorough background check and demonstrating a “need to know.” The Senators claimed that circumventing these requirements poses a significant amount of security and counterintelligence risks.
The other senators who joined Ossoff in sending the letter were Sen Mark R. Warner from Virginia, Sen. Ron Wyden from Oregon, Sen. Martin Heinrich from New Mexico, Sen. Angus S. King from Maine, Jr. Sen. Michael F. Bennet from Colorado, Sen. Kristen Gillibrand from New York and Sen. Mark Kelly from Arizona.  ,
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The backstory:
Sen. Ossoff has taken action on data security and privacy issues before in this context. He launched an FBI investigation into its use of facial recognition technology in 2022 in search of assurances that Americans ‘ First and Fourth Amendment rights were being upheld.
Additionally, this week, Sen. Ossoff criticized the Trump Administration’s attacks on the CDC, warning that they pose serious risks to public health.
” The Trump Administration is undermining vital CDC data, research, and public health reporting, endangering Georgians and all Americans who depend on the world’s leading public health agency. The Trump Administration’s apparent campaign to hollow out America’s public health system puts us all at risk. I’ll fight back fervently against political attacks directed at CDC employees, Ossoff said.  ,
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What’s next:
Sen. Ossoff and his associates want answers from the White House regarding how DOGE personnel are being screened and whether appropriate security measures are in place. Their inquiry underscores growing concerns over data privacy, government transparency, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
As lawmakers continue to press for more oversight, the question remains: Will the White House impose stricter regulations to protect national security, or will DOGE continue to operate without proper accountability?