In a stunning development, a top Democratic lawmaker has declared a “constitutional emergency” over Elon Musk’s unchecked access to sensitive government data. The dire warning comes as the billionaire’s controversial Doge unit continues its blitz through federal agencies, sparking fears of potential security breaches and abuse of power.
Senior Democrat Demands Probe into Musk’s Government Infiltration
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, is sounding the alarm over what he calls a dangerous “void of oversight” as Musk’s team gains access to private information within the Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services. In an exclusive letter obtained by The Guardian, Scott urged the Government Accountability Office to launch an immediate investigation into the legality and impacts of Doge’s interventions.
This is a constitutional emergency. Insofar as the Inspectors General of the Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services have been fired by President Trump, there is now a void of oversight for a very young and inexperienced team and their leader, the world’s richest man … as they gain dangerously broad powers.
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
The congressman’s urgent plea comes on the heels of reports that Musk’s unit has forced its way into servers containing:
- Private information of federal student aid recipients at the Education Department
- Sensitive data on workplace investigations and whistleblowers at the Labor Department
- Personal health and financial information of millions of Americans within HHS payment systems
Scott emphasized the need for answers on what, if any, controls are in place over Doge’s classified data access and compliance with privacy laws. He called on the GAO to “use all authority at your disposal” to swiftly assess the scope of the unit’s powers and their implications for vulnerable citizens who rely on these agencies.
Temporary Restraining Order Underscores Legal Quagmire
The explosive developments come as a federal judge granted the Labor Department a temporary restraining order to block Musk’s access to its servers, pending a ruling expected on Friday. But Scott stressed that even a favorable court decision is no substitute for rigorous congressional oversight of the unprecedented arrangement between the administration and the tech mogul.
“The nation needs answers immediately about the scope of those powers; any laws, regulations, or other policies regarding access to these data and systems which may be implicated by DOGE’s infiltration; and the integrity of government programs on which schoolchildren and working families depend for their lives and livelihoods,” he wrote in his letter to the GAO.
Mounting Concerns Over Musk’s Unchecked Influence
The bombshell revelations are sure to intensify the growing backlash against Musk’s cozy relationship with the Trump administration and the preferential treatment afforded to his Doge unit. Critics have long warned that allowing a powerful business magnate to wield such far-reaching influence over government functions, without any meaningful checks and balances, poses grave risks to privacy, security, and democratic norms.
As the legal and political firestorm rages on, all eyes will be on Congress to see if lawmakers heed Rep. Scott’s urgent call to action and move swiftly to investigate the full extent of Musk’s government infiltration. For the millions of Americans whose sensitive personal data now lies exposed to unknown actors and agendas, the stakes could not be higher.
