The Musk Takeover: A Government Hijacked Without Oversight
Note – this was initially a post on Facebook, copied and reformatted to this website.
An Unprecedented Power Grab
Elon Musk has taken control of critical government functions in an unconstitutional and unprecedented power grab under the guise of “government efficiency.” Through the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk now wields control over federal operations, financial systems, hiring structures, and personal data—without appointment, oversight, or legal authority.
This is not just political overreach. It is an existential crisis for American governance, national security, financial integrity, and civil liberties.
Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Takeover
- Musk, through DOGE, has taken control of critical government agencies and installed his own unvetted, inexperienced team with access to sensitive federal systems.
- These individuals—who lack security clearances—are actively accessing and modifying government operations they do not understand.
- DOGE operatives have installed private servers inside federal agencies, bypassing government security systems.
- Musk’s team has gained direct access to the U.S. Treasury’s payment systems, which process over $6 trillion annually.
- Treasury oversight officials who objected to DOGE’s access have been placed on administrative leave, effectively punishing those enforcing safeguards.
- DOGE now controls federal payments, meaning Musk has the power to delay or deny Social Security, Medicare, federal salaries, and government contracts.
- Federal agencies and employees are being displaced, defunded, and restructured without congressional approval.
- Musk’s companies (X, Starlink, Neuralink, Tesla) could intersect with this government data, merging private and federal information in an unprecedented experiment.
- Even if Musk were removed, he would still retain access to this data.
Agencies DOGE Has Taken Over & Data Likely Compromised
1. U.S. Treasury Department
Data Likely Taken:
- Social Security payment records
- Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement details
- Federal employee payroll data
- Bank account information for federal payments
- Federal tax records, including audit histories
Impact:
- Musk can decide who gets paid and who doesn’t.
- Personal financial records of U.S. citizens are at risk of compromise, leaks, or sales.
2. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Data Likely Taken:
- Personal information of all federal employees
- Security clearance levels
- Employment history, job performance, and disciplinary records
- Federal pension and benefits data
Impact:
- Hiring and firing decisions can be based on ideology, not qualifications.
- Security clearance information is potentially compromised, endangering national security.
- Federal workforce data is accessible to Musk’s private team without oversight.
3. USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development)
Data Likely Taken:
- Funding records for international aid programs
- Personal data of USAID employees and contractors
- Communications regarding U.S. foreign aid policy
- Classified national security information
Impact:
- USAID employees have been locked out of their offices.
- Foreign aid payments have been frozen, violating congressional funding authority.
- National security may already be compromised.
4. General Services Administration (GSA)
Data Likely Taken:
- Federal office leases and government real estate records
- Government technology infrastructure access logs
- Security details of federal buildings
Impact:
- DOGE has initiated termination of federal office leases without legal authority.
- Government agencies are being displaced, shut down, or reorganized without oversight.
5. Department of Education
Data Likely Taken:
- FAFSA records, including family financial disclosures
- Student loan histories and repayment plans
- Personal data of millions of borrowers
Impact:
- Musk’s team now has access to the financial history of millions of students and families.
- Decisions about federal student aid could be politically or ideologically influenced.
Consequences for Governance, Security, and Civil Liberties
National Security Risks
- Government computer networks have been breached by unvetted personnel.
- Treasury data could be used for financial manipulation, insider trading, or foreign influence.
- Security clearance records may be compromised, making U.S. intelligence vulnerable.
- Foreign adversaries, including China and Russia, could access stolen federal data.
Threats to Individuals and Their Data
- Your Social Security number, tax records, and bank information are now at risk.
- There are no legal restrictions preventing Musk from using, selling, or monetizing this data.
- The risk of mass identity theft has skyrocketed.
Economic and Business Impacts
- Government contracts could be steered toward Musk-aligned companies.
- Musk’s control over payment systems could financially devastate competitors.
- Federal funding stability is now dependent on Musk’s private interests.
Laws Violated & Constitutional Breaches
Federal Laws Likely Violated
- Espionage Act (18 U.S.C. § 793) – Unauthorized possession or transmission of national security data.
- Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (18 U.S.C. § 1030) – Illegally accessing government networks.
- Impoundment Control Act (1974) – Prohibits withholding congressionally approved funds.
- Civil Service Protections (5 U.S.C. § 2302) – Government employees cannot be fired for political reasons.
Constitutional Violations
- Article I, Section 8 – Only Congress has the power to fund and regulate federal agencies.
- Article II, Section 2 – Musk has not been legally appointed or confirmed to a government role.
Immediate Action Required
Legal and Congressional Action
- Lawsuits & Injunctions Must Be Filed
- A federal judge must issue an injunction immediately.
- Congress Must Act Despite Gridlock
- Introduce and pass a resolution halting Musk’s control.
- Hold public hearings to expose this crisis.
- Issue subpoenas for Musk and DOGE officials.
- Public Awareness & Pressure
- Demand immediate action from lawmakers and courts.
- Urge media and investigative journalists to cover the full scope of this crisis.
Warning: This Is a Hostile Takeover
This is not an administrative issue—it is a direct takeover of government functions.
If this is not stopped immediately, it will become permanent.
Sources Include
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/02/president-elon-musk-trump/681558/
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/elon-musk-doge-treasury-access-federal-payments.html
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/02/elon-musk-bureaucratic-coup/681559/
https://www.businessinsider.com/union-groups-sue-accuse-treasury-giving-doge-access-data-2025-2
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/03/unions-sue-block-musk-treasury-payment-00202243
https://apnews.com/article/21153a742fbad86284369bb173ec343c
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/establishing-and-implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency/
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77rkg5dm3vo
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-treasury-dept-gives-musks-doge-read-only-access-payment-systems-2025-02-04/
https://www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-news/wyden-demands-answers-following-report-of-musk-personnel-seeking-access-to-highly-sensitive-us-treasury-payments-system
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Government_Efficiency
https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/final_-_rm_warren_letter_to_bessent_re_treasury_payment_system.pdf
https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-associate-bfs-federal-payment-system/
https://www.wired.com/story/demystifying-doge-elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy
