AI News Monitor

As DOGE continues its rapid restructuring of federal agencies—including locking out employees from key databases—legal challenges and public scrutiny are mounting.

Elon Musk’s controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is reportedly using artificial intelligence to surveil federal employees—specifically targeting communications deemed hostile to President Donald Trump—according Reuters‘ sources.

The revelation, first reported by Reuters, has sparked concerns over government transparency, data security, and potential political targeting within federal agencies.

AI on the Watch for “Anti-Trump” Language

Two sources revealed that Trump-appointed officials at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) informed managers that DOGE was deploying AI to monitor employee communications—including Microsoft Teams chats—for language critical of Trump or Musk himself.

“We have been told they are looking for anti-Trump or anti-Musk language,” one source said. Another manager reportedly warned staff: “Be careful what you say, what you type, and what you do.”

The EPA, already under scrutiny by the Trump administration, has placed nearly 600 employees on leave and slashed 65% of its budget, raising fears of further workforce reductions. While the agency acknowledged exploring AI for “administrative efficiencies,” it did not directly confirm whether AI was being used to surveil employees.

Signal, Grok, and Google Docs: DOGE’s Secretive Tech Stack

Beyond AI monitoring, DOGE’s operations are raising eyebrows for their lack of transparency:

• Signal App Use: DOGE staffers are allegedly using Signal, an encrypted messaging app that allows messages to disappear—potentially violating federal record-keeping laws.
• Grok AI Integration: Musk’s own Grok AI chatbot is reportedly being used to streamline government cuts, though its exact role remains unclear.
• Google Docs Workarounds: Some DOGE employees are bypassing traditional document vetting by collaborating in real-time via Google Docs, speeding up processes but sidestepping standard protocols.

Legal and Ethical Backlash

Government ethics experts are sounding the alarm. Kathleen Clark, a law professor at Washington University, called the surveillance “an abuse of government power to suppress speech the president doesn’t like.”

Meanwhile, a federal judge recently ordered DOGE to release records after watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) sued over the department’s “unusual secrecy.” So far, no documents have been handed over.

Musk’s Vision vs. Reality

Musk has pitched DOGE as a tech-driven overhaul to eliminate government waste, aiming to cut $1 trillion from the U.S. budget. But critics—including Democrats and some Republicans—accuse the initiative of purging nonpartisan civil servants and replacing them with political loyalists.

Last year, Musk reportedly floated the idea of AI replacing federal workers entirely, suggesting automation could handle government tasks. Now, with AI allegedly being used to monitor dissent, the line between efficiency and overreach appears increasingly blurred.

What’s Next?

As DOGE continues its rapid restructuring of federal agencies—including locking out employees from key databases—legal challenges and public scrutiny are mounting. With Musk’s team operating in near-total secrecy, the question remains: Is this about streamlining government, or silencing opposition?