A key Senate Democrat, Sen. Chris Murphy from Connecticut, is urging an independent watchdog investigation into the agreement that allows Elon Musk and his aides to access sensitive or classified government information. The letter obtained by a source reveals that Sen. Murphy is concerned about the legality and scope of the arrangement.
Specifically, Sen. Murphy has requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to look into the Trump administration's decision to designate Musk and his associates as 'special government employees.' The senator emphasized that this title should not grant them unrestricted access to government data and servers.
In his letter to the Comptroller General of the United States, Eugene Dodaro, Sen. Murphy also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. He pointed out that federal employees are prohibited from participating in matters that could impact their financial interests.
The GAO has already accepted a separate request from Senate Democrats to investigate the Department of Government Efficiency's access to the US Treasury payment system. A GAO spokesperson confirmed that the process of staffing the engagement is underway, although a timeline for completion was not provided.
Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden have also called for an investigation into the information accessed by DOGE members at the Treasury's payment system. They are looking into whether Trump political appointees exerted pressure on career officials to grant access.
Amid mounting scrutiny, President Donald Trump recently met with Elon Musk in the Oval Office to address questions and ensure transparency. The situation has sparked significant concern among Democrats in Congress, while Republicans have been more reserved in their response.
