A representative from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, received permission to access the Energy Department’s IT system on Wednesday, as confirmed by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Wright authorized access for DOGE representative Luke Farritor, a 23-year-old former intern at SpaceX, despite objections from the department’s general counsel and chief information officers. The chief information office is responsible for the department’s IT and cybersecurity operations.
Sources indicated that members of the general counsel and chief information offices expressed concerns, stating that granting access was unwise since Farritor had not undergone the standard background check required for system access. “He’s not cleared to be in DOE, on our systems. None of those things have been done,” one source noted.
Farritor was allowed access to basic IT services, including email and Microsoft 365. The chief information office primarily handles limited IT and cybersecurity functions for the National Nuclear Security Administration, such as providing connectivity and basic internet services for NNSA’s headquarters, but does not manage IT systems for the nuclear agency’s laboratories that oversee the nation’s nuclear arsenal.
Plans are underway to appoint a new chief information officer for the Department of Energy, with a candidate from SpaceX’s network security team, according to sources who spoke with CNN.
A spokesperson for the Energy Department has not yet responded to requests for comment.
In addition to the presence of DOGE in the building, employees at the Energy Department, including those from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), have received buyout offers similar to those sent to staff in various other agencies. These buyouts typically allow employees to exit their positions while still receiving pay through the end of September. The inclusion of NNSA in this buyout initiative is noteworthy, as it is responsible for the production and maintenance of the nation’s nuclear arsenal and other vital national security functions.
Employees at the Energy Department who have been with the agency for less than a year have received notifications indicating their probationary status, along with warnings of potential immediate termination. Similar notifications have also been sent to over 1,000 employees at the Environmental Protection Agency.
Currently, there are at least 1,000 DOE staff members working in relatively new offices established following the passage of Biden’s infrastructure and climate legislation a few years ago, including the Grid Deployment Office, which focuses on modernizing and securing the nation’s electrical grid.
Earlier this week, CNN reported that 60 Energy Department employees were placed on administrative leave due to their involvement in matters related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
