In a controversial development that is raising alarms among ethics experts and federal watchdogs, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—an enigmatic tech team brought in under the Trump administration—is reportedly using artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor communications within federal agencies. This surveillance is allegedly focused on identifying sentiments perceived as hostile to Donald Trump and his policy agenda.

According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, DOGE’s operations include scanning internal chats and documents at agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for language that may be deemed critical of Trump or Musk. If true, this would signal a disturbing expansion of surveillance capabilities within the U.S. federal system—one that crosses ethical and potentially legal lines.

Use of AI Tools Like Grok and Signal Raises Red Flags

What makes the matter more concerning is the technology stack being used. Sources indicate DOGE members are heavily utilizing Grok, Musk’s own AI chatbot—considered a rival to ChatGPT—as part of their mission to streamline the government and cut costs. However, exactly how Grok is being used remains unclear and opaque.

Additionally, the team is communicating through Signal, an encrypted messaging app that automatically deletes messages, effectively bypassing federal record-keeping requirements. This has prompted strong criticism from government ethics experts, such as Kathleen Clark from Washington University, who calls this behavior “unlawful” if messages are not archived as required by law.

Federal Workers Cautioned Amid Mass Layoffs and Budget Cuts

The EPA appears to be one of the key targets for DOGE’s surveillance activities. Trump-appointed officials have warned managers and employees to “be careful what you say, what you type and what you do,” as DOGE’s AI monitors platforms like Microsoft Teams.

Since January, nearly 600 EPA employees have been placed on leave, and there are plans to cut 65% of the EPA’s budget, indicating a massive restructuring. Many fear this is part of a wider purge of non-loyalists across federal agencies, with AI being used as a tool to identify dissenters.

Secrecy and Legal Challenges Intensify

DOGE's opaque working style and use of external digital tools like Google Docs has only fueled suspicion. Reports suggest that multiple DOGE staffers are bypassing official document handling procedures by collaboratively editing in Google Docs, creating real-time changes without formal review or traceability.

This operational opacity led to a federal judge ordering DOGE to begin releasing records after a lawsuit by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). Yet, as of the latest updates, no documents have been handed over, reinforcing perceptions of intentional secrecy.

Manipulating Access and Oversight at OPM

Further controversy surrounds DOGE’s takeover of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)—the core agency overseeing federal employee management. Since January, DOGE locked out OPM employees from databases containing sensitive personal information, leaving only two individuals with access: a career staffer and Greg Hogan, a political appointee with a background in AI startups.

The centralization of access to such critical government infrastructure by Musk-aligned individuals has raised alarms about potential abuse of power, especially as DOGE sets the tone for large-scale staff reductions and government overhauls.

DOGE’s Goal: Trimming $1 Trillion from the U.S. Budget

Musk has pitched DOGE as a revolutionary project aimed at eliminating $1 trillion in federal waste, or around 15% of the U.S. annual budget. However, critics argue the initiative may serve as a smokescreen for removing independent public servants and installing political loyalists, using AI and secrecy as weapons.

While some agree that modernization of outdated government systems is necessary, the manner in which DOGE is reportedly conducting its operations—hidden from public oversight and potentially violating multiple laws—poses a serious challenge to democratic governance.

Concerns About Ethics and AI's Expanding Role

DOGE’s unorthodox use of AI, disappearing message apps, and its alleged targeting of political speech, have triggered concerns among not just Democrats but also some Republicans and independents. The belief that Musk’s influence is growing unchecked within the federal system is now at the center of public debate.

Kathleen Clark emphasizes that targeting federal employees for expressing views that oppose the administration “sounds like an abuse of government power to suppress or deter speech.”

Moreover, Musk’s earlier idea, as shared by a source, of replacing government workers with AI raises fundamental questions about the future of civil service and whether efficiency is being used as a guise for authoritarian control.

Final Thoughts

While Elon Musk’s involvement in government reform may appeal to those seeking efficiency and tech-driven modernization, the lack of transparency, use of secretive tools, and reports of political targeting have transformed DOGE from a quiet administrative project into a national controversy.

Unless DOGE is held to the same transparency and accountability standards as other government arms, the risk of ethical and constitutional violations will continue to grow—leaving federal employees, watchdogs, and the public questioning how much influence one private individual should have over the inner workings of American democracy.

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