DOGE Uses AI to Monitor Government Employees
Published On: April 9, 2025
Allegations of politically motivated surveillance at the hands of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have ignited controversy across Washington, following reports that artificial intelligence is being used to monitor federal workers for perceived disloyalty. According to multiple sources, DOGE staffers are deploying AI systems within at least one federal agency—the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—to detect anti-Trump or anti-Musk sentiments in internal communications.
While the EPA has denied the claims as “categorically false,” the allegations, if true, point to a significant breach of privacy and government transparency. The accusations come amid growing concerns about the role of DOGE in reshaping the federal workforce under the Trump administration with minimal oversight.
DOGE, created to identify and eliminate what it deems waste and inefficiency in government spending, has come under fire for its opaque operations, aggressive downsizing, and growing influence over agencies like the EPA and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The initiative is spearheaded by Elon Musk—CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.
Sources familiar with DOGE’s activities told Reuters that AI tools, including Musk’s own “Grok” chatbot—designed as a rival to ChatGPT—have been “heavily” deployed within federal systems. These tools are allegedly being used to flag communication patterns deemed politically unfavorable or disloyal to the current administration.
DOGE staffers are also reportedly communicating through the Signal app, which allows users to send encrypted and disappearing messages, raising alarms among government transparency advocates. “If they’re using Signal and not backing up every message to federal files, then they are acting unlawfully,” said Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert at Washington University in St. Louis.
EPA officials, meanwhile, acknowledged exploring AI for administrative purposes but denied using it in personnel decisions or surveillance efforts. Still, critics question the timing and motives behind these developments, especially as the EPA undergoes dramatic restructuring. Since January, the agency has placed nearly 600 employees on leave and proposed cutting 65% of its budget.
As the backlash builds, lawmakers from both parties are beginning to call for congressional oversight of DOGE. Many argue that the unchecked use of AI in federal agencies—especially when used to track internal dissent—poses a serious threat to democratic governance and employee rights.