WaPo reports DOGE accessed sensitive data, White House defends mission

• DOGE’s access to sensitive government data has raised concerns among security officials, with claims that it could be misused. A lawsuit accuses the Treasury secretary of granting illegal broad access to U.S. government accounting systems.

• The White House maintains that DOGE agents are operating within the law and have the necessary clearances.

• The issue has become politically divisive, with Democrats calling for investigations into security breaches, while Republicans push for a broader review to uncover government waste.

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How much access should DOGE have to government databases to effectively root out federal waste while safeguarding sensitive information? The Washington Post reported Thursday, Feb. 6, that some security officials are worried about the extent of the information DOGE has access to.

A lawsuit claims that the Treasury secretary granted DOGE representatives illegal, broad access to U.S. government accounting systems.

White House response

The White House has responded, stating that DOGE agents are operating in full compliance with federal law. According to the administration, those involved in the investigation process have the appropriate clearances and underwent proper onboarding with read-only access.

When Reuters asked the White House why DOGE agents were reviewing records of security officials or staff, a spokesperson responded that reviewing organizational charts is standard procedure in any restructuring process.

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Security officials detail DOGE’s access

The Post spoke with four anonymous U.S. officials who claim that DOGE has access to highly restricted records, including data on millions of federal employees.

Two officials from the Office of Personnel Management told the Post that the level of access granted to DOGE agents means they could copy sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and phone numbers, modify or delete records, and export data to personal devices or potentially to another country.

While the officials did not witness any of this activity, they expressed concern over the amount of access DOGE agents have.

Lawsuits and legal challenges

DOGE is facing several lawsuits related to its access to government data. The most recent lawsuit aims to prevent DOGE agents from visiting the Labor Department. Additionally, a lawsuit over access to Treasury Department files resulted in a judge temporarily blocking DOGE’s activities.

In response, Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyers have agreed to limit the scope of the review to just two Treasury Department employees affiliated with DOGE.

The DOJ is requesting these individuals have access to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, also known as “America’s Checkbook,” which handles 90% of federal payments. It remains unclear whether the judge will approve the DOJ’s proposal.

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Political divide over DOGE’s role

The issue has sparked a political divide on Capitol Hill. Democrats are calling for an investigation into Elon Musk, who heads DOGE, over potential security breaches by his team. Meanwhile, Republicans are urging DOGE to press ahead with its records review to uncover government waste.