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February 10, 2025

Committee Leaders Stress to NOAA the Threat of Elon Musk, Demand Answers on DOGE Access to Crucial Data Systems

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Ranking Members Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Gabe Amo (RI-1) of the Subcommittee on Environment, and Emilia Sykes (OH-13) of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) demanding answers on the safety and status of sensitive data possessed by the 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. They continued, “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.”

The Ranking Members continue, noting NOAA systems that would be vulnerable to DOGE interference:

“The National Weather Service (NWS) is critical to alert communities of extreme weather threats – including the wildfires that tore through Southern California last month. The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) operates the Aviation Weather Initiative, which improves aviation safety by informing operators of weather conditions and engine icing. Unvetted, untrained DOGE employees run the risk of breaking these crucial systems. NOAA also houses the Office of Space Commerce (OSC), where meddling in the data systems could not only severely compromise confidential business information (CBI), but also information with serious national security implications. ... Furthermore, given Mr. Musk’s past difficulty in obtaining high-level security clearance due to his contacts with foreign officials including Vladimir Putin, it is highly concerning that access to [the Office of Space Commerce’s Traffic Coordination System for Space] could involve sensitive national security information related to space situational awareness.”

Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Amo, and Ms. Sykes relay their concern that this is the beginning of the end for NOAA:

“As Ranking Members, we are extremely concerned that allowing DOGE unfettered access to NOAA systems is an attempt by the Trump administration to sabotage the agency in furtherance of Project 2025’s agenda to dismantle it. Project 2025 seeks to privatize NOAA, compromising the essential services it provides. By infiltrating NOAA’s systems, DOGE could be improperly exfiltrating data and setting the stage for selling off its capabilities to the highest bidder. This is of particular concern given the potential conflicts of interest between DOGE, SpaceX, and NOAA.”

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 NOAA? If so, who accessed this information, and for what purpose?
  • 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 within NOAA that contain Personally Identifiable Information (PII)? If so, who accessed this information, and for what purpose?
  • Has any individual employed by, affiliated with, or acting on behalf of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), communicated with any NOAA employees or officials in an attempt to secure DOGE access to secure, classified, or proprietary data, information, or systems maintained or overseen by NOAA? If so, who accessed this information, and for what purpose?
  • 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 NOAA, will you pledge to protect such data, information, or systems from any and all access that would violate any and all NOAA 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.