The Blubber

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team members have reportedly obtained “administrator” email accounts at the Department of Education, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s announcement that Musk will be closely examining the agency.

The rapid placement of Musk’s team members across various federal agencies has sparked concerns from government officials, lawmakers, and watchdog groups, who fear his team now has access to sensitive data and may be orchestrating a broad purge of federal employees.

During a White House press conference on Friday, Trump was questioned by NBC News about allegations that Musk and DOGE’s aggressive staff reductions might violate the law. Trump defended the strategy, stating that the Department of Education is a priority for Musk. “He will be looking at education pretty quickly,” Trump said.

NBC News confirmed that Akash Bobba and Ethan Shaotran, both 22 years old and identified as DOGE members, have gained administrator-level access within the Education Department’s email system, potentially giving them access to classified information. Two current department employees also reported that Shaotran accessed the back end of the ed.gov website on Friday.

Three employees said it is highly unusual for individuals from other government agencies to receive ed.gov email credentials. The Department of Education did not respond to requests for comment.

Tensions are escalating at the department, especially after leadership announced that employees who accept a deferred resignation package—offered to much of the federal workforce—would waive their right to sue if the government fails to uphold the offer. The employee union has advised workers against taking the deal, drawing parallels to Musk’s takeover of Twitter, where employees reportedly did not receive expected severance.

A longtime Education Department employee, speaking anonymously, described widespread concern among career staff about DOGE’s actions. They expressed fears that Musk’s team might misuse data from the national student loan database, push out experienced staff, and undermine the government’s ability to collect federal loans.

The New York Times reported that as many as 16 DOGE team members are now listed in the Education Department directory, while the Washington Post revealed that these individuals have fed sensitive personal and financial data into artificial intelligence systems.

On Friday morning, 95 House Democrats attempted to meet with acting Education Secretary Denise Carter at the department’s headquarters after sending a letter expressing concern over plans to potentially dismantle the department. However, security barred their entry, leading to chaotic scenes as lawmakers protested.

“They are blocking members of Congress from entering the Department of Education! Elon is allowed in, and not the people? ILLEGAL,” Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Meanwhile, watchdog group Public Citizen filed a lawsuit on behalf of the University of California Student Association, seeking to block DOGE staff from accessing sensitive student data. The suit argues that DOGE-affiliated individuals accessed internal systems containing federal student aid information, putting the personal data of over 42 million Americans at risk.

Adding to the turmoil, a department-wide memo was circulated this week, calling for a review of grants associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The memo, obtained by NBC News, stated the goal of identifying “discriminatory practices” and aligning department activities with policy objectives.