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February 06, 2025

Committee Leaders Stress to NASA the Threat of Elon Musk, Demand Answers on Whether DOGE Has Made Contact

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Ranking Members Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) and Valerie Foushee (NC-04) sent a letter to NASA demanding answers on the safety and status of sensitive data and whether DOGE has made contact with the space agency.

"We have observed, with great alarm, the shocking disregard for data privacy and security protocols exhibited by personnel associated with the so-called 'Department of Government Efficiency,' or DOGE, the Ranking Members said in the letter. "The executive order that created DOGE explicitly limited its access to 'all unclassified agency records,' and only 'to the maximum extent consistent with law.' Recent press reports, however, described a confrontation between DOGE personnel and security officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), during which DOGE employees without proper security clearances sought to gain access to secure systems containing classified information."

The Ranking Members continue, noting Elon Musk's many conflicts of interest as both the CEO of SpaceX and leader of DOGE and its government hackers:

"This is an appalling situation. The recklessness and contempt with which DOGE personnel are rampaging through the federal government threatens a wide range of security interests, privacy controls, and government services. Their egregious and seemingly unlawful acts compromise our national security and put Americans at risk. But the risk to NASA is unique in certain respects, largely due to the vast conflicts-of-interest that the leader of DOGE, Elon Musk, has with NASA. Mr. Musk, apparently serving as a 'special government employee,' is personally directing DOGE’s activities. He is also the CEO of SpaceX, the privately-held rocket manufacturer and commercial spaceflight company that is currently NASA’s second-largest contractor, holding more than $2 billion worth of agency contracts. An executive from SpaceX, Michael Altenhofen, recently joined NASA as a 'senior advisor to the NASA Administrator.'"

Ms. Lofgren and Ms. Foushee explicitly relay their immediate concern, classified or proprietary data getting into the hands of DOGE hackers and the risk it poses for future NASA projects:

"Our immediate concern is to ensure that the integrity of NASA’s secure systems, including any classified data managed or accessed by the agency, is being preserved...Furthermore, NASA possesses highly sensitive proprietary data related to the capabilities and contractual obligations of its contractors – some of whom are or could become direct competitors to SpaceX and may compete with SpaceX for forthcoming agency contracts. The possibility that such proprietary data could be obtained by the CEO of SpaceX without regard to NASA procurement rules and regulations risks compromising the integrity of NASA procurement decisions in the future. Mr. Musk’s personal communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as his significant business ties to China, further underscore the gravity of this matter."

The questions the Ranking Members demand answers for are below:

  • Has any individual employed by, affiliated with, or acting on behalf of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), accessed or attempted to access secure, classified, or proprietary data, information, or systems within NASA?
  • Has any individual employed by, affiliated with, or acting on behalf of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), accessed or attempted to access data or systems that contain Personally Identifiable Information (PII)?
  • Has any individual employed by, affiliated with, or acting on behalf of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), communicated with any NASA employees or officials in an attempt to secure DOGE access to any data, information, or systems maintained or overseen by NASA?
  • If any individual employed by, affiliated with, or acting on behalf of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) attempts to access secure, classified, or proprietary data, information, or systems within NASA, will you pledge to protect such data, information, or systems from any and all access that would violate any and all NASA policies and procedures, federal laws and regulations, and official protocols? Furthermore, will you pledge to immediately notify the Committee if any such incidents occur?

Read the letter here.