2 weeks Ago By Associated Press
By DAVID KLEPPER WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee are demanding answers after they say President Donald Trump gave billionaire Elon Musk and his staff access to sensitive data and classified secrets as part of their work to overhaul the federal government. Related Articles National Politics | Trump unleashes a supercharged MAGA agenda and Republicans come aboard National Politics | Pam Bondi is sworn in as attorney general as the Justice Department braces for major shakeup National Politics | Callers swamp Senate offices in Trump’s first weeks, only to get busy signals and full voicemail National Politics | Trump tariff threats hang over Italian fashion industry as a luxury slowdown hits National Politics | From fighting disease to protecting the Amazon rainforest, USAID has big impact across the globe The lawmakers on Wednesday wrote to Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff, and asked what security precautions had been taken to prevent unauthorized leaks of information by staff at the Department of Government Efficiency , known as DOGE. Trump tapped Musk to run the taskforce, which has quickly gotten to work dismantling whole agencies of the federal government .
As part of that effort , Musk and his staff have gained access to computer systems that the senators say contain potentially sensitive medical and financial information about millions of Americans as well as federal payroll information, classified documents, information from foreign intelligence partners and the identities of undercover agents and intelligence sources. In the letter, the senators warned that national security and the personal privacy of Americans could be at risk if the information is mishandled — intentionally or through negligence. They ask whether Musk’s team has met with U.
S. intelligence officials to discuss how to reduce the chances of the data being misused and what steps to take to protect classified information, such as the identities of CIA informants or the actions of overseas intelligence operatives. Such information would be highly valuable to the spy agencies of Russia, China, Iran and other nations, and its loss could put lives at risk while undermining efforts to prevent terrorism and other threats to the U.
S., the senators wrote. “No information has been provided to Congress or the public as to who has been formally hired under DOGE, under what authority or regulations DOGE is operating, or how DOGE is vetting and monitoring its staff and representatives before providing them seemingly unfettered access to classified materials and Americans’ personal information,” the Senators wrote.
The letter was signed by seven Democrats serving on the Intelligence Committee as well as independent Sen. Angus King of Maine. The White House did not immediately respond to the senators’ questions.
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