Musk's Control Over Federal IT Raises Governance Concerns
Musk's influence over federal IT through DOGE has ignited concerns over governance, cybersecurity, and the targeting of diversity programs, as experts question the implications of such power.
The overall effect of Musk's approach has been to turn once mundane federal IT systems into an ideologically driven mechanism for removing programs deemed unnecessary or excessively "woke."
Musk's actions are highlighting how reliant government operations have become on technological systems that can be manipulated easily. He is also testing the extent of power a single official can have if he possesses White House approval for access.
Ann Lewis, the former director of Technology Transformation Services under the General Services Administration, remarked, "They've done their homework. Going where the majority of the volume of government transaction data is seems very strategic."
This endeavor appears to align with the goals of past good-government reformers, who aimed to modernize cumbersome federal hiring and procurement processes over the years.
However, many governance experts are alarmed by the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The office is reportedly targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion-related programs, diverging from the goals of productivity and efficiency.
There are also serious cybersecurity concerns regarding operations within DOGE. A lawsuit suggests that a Musk ally set up a private email server at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to send mass emails to civil servants. DOGE spokesperson Katie Miller denied these claims, calling them fabricated tales.
Experts, including Lewis, indicate that Musk is positioning himself to enhance his digital power within the bureaucracy rather than through traditional top-level roles. She warns that if DOGE embeds itself within the General Services Administration, it could access valuable tech talent and funds for further recruitment.
Musk's strategy involves going directly into the core systems of the federal government, raising alarms among experts regarding their access to sensitive information. Robert Gordon, a former deputy assistant to President Biden, raised concerns about the implications of allowing direct editing of code in government systems.
Gordon points out that while federal reform is needed, DOGE's aggressive approach may be counterproductive, potentially facing legal challenges that could reverse its initiatives.
Ultimately, the fusion of political decision-making with direct access to IT systems illustrates a new era of governance that diverges from traditional political practices.
