Jerry Jackson Elon Musk’s expanding role within federal agencies is raising serious concerns. Senior Democrats are calling for an investigation into potential security breaches and unauthorized access to classified government data. At the same time, Republican support for Musk’s involvement is beginning to wane.
House Oversight Committee Democrats have urged federal agencies to investigate Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge). They fear that Musk and his team may have gained illegal access to sensitive data from agencies like the US Treasury, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and USAID.
In a letter sent Thursday, lawmakers raised questions about whether Musk’s team had legal authorization to access these systems and whether any security clearance process had been conducted. They have also called for an investigation into other agencies, including the Department of Education, Small Business Administration, and the General Services Administration.
A federal judge has already placed temporary restrictions on Doge’s access to the Treasury Department’s payment system. This follows reports that Musk’s team tried to block USAID payments, disrupting civil service operations and sparking legal challenges.
Although Musk initially enjoyed strong support from Republicans, his growing involvement in government operations is now causing discomfort within the party. An Economist/YouGov poll revealed that only 26% of Republicans now support Musk’s influence in the Trump administration, down from 47% after Trump’s election victory.
Republican senators are also expressing concerns about Musk’s role. Lawsuits have been filed over his takeover of USAID, his access to Treasury financial systems, and his acquisition of federal employee data. Recently, Doge agents attempted to access additional government agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Labor, raising further alarm.
Musk’s next target appears to be the Department of Education, a focus of Trump’s government downsizing agenda. Reports indicate that employees have been placed on leave, locked out of their emails, or told not to report to work, similar to actions taken at other agencies. Additionally, the Trump administration has given federal employees an ultimatum: accept buyouts by Thursday or face termination without compensation. Critics argue that even those who accept buyouts may never receive the promised payments.
Democrats are sounding the alarm over Musk’s unchecked influence within federal agencies. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has described Doge as an “unelected shadow government” attempting to take control of key institutions.
“Democracy cannot function in secrecy or operate outside the rule of law,” Schumer warned in a speech to the Senate.
Despite these concerns, the White House has attempted to defend Musk’s role. Officials have stated that Trump appointed him as an unsalaried “special government employee” to streamline operations within federal agencies. Trump himself has insisted that Musk “can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval.”
Legal Challenges and Growing Scrutiny
Legal challenges to Musk’s growing influence continue to increase. The Justice Department has imposed temporary restrictions on Doge’s access to Treasury Department financial systems. Meanwhile, Congressman Mark Pocan introduced the Eliminate Looting of Our Nation by Mitigating Unethical State Kleptocracy Act—or Elon Musk Act—to prevent billionaires like Musk from exploiting government resources for personal gain.
With lawsuits underway and bipartisan unease growing, Musk’s role in reshaping federal agencies faces increasing scrutiny. The battle over his influence in Washington is far from over.