Security expert Bruce Schneier recently testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, warning about the risks associated with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative. DOGE, a White House program formerly led by Elon Musk, has been scrutinizing government databases and implementing widespread layoffs in the name of efficiency.
Schneier’s Testimony
Schneier’s message contrasted with other witnesses who focused on AI’s potential to enhance productivity and streamline bureaucracy. He highlighted the national security implications of consolidating data and feeding it into AI models. “You all need to assume that adversaries have copies of all the data DOGE has exfiltrated and has established access into all the networks that DOGE has removed security controls from,” Schneier warned.
Risks of DOGE’s Approach
The security expert pointed out that DOGE’s actions have compromised cybersecurity and put sensitive information at risk. He noted that the initiative’s affiliates have been exfiltrating massive U.S. databases, processing them with AI, and sharing them with private companies. Schneier concluded that sacrificing cybersecurity for an AI-driven future risks not only the country but also critical systems like justice, legislation, banking, and national defense.
Recent Developments
The concerns raised by Schneier were echoed in a subsequent U.S. Supreme Court decision. The court temporarily granted DOGE access to sensitive Social Security Administration data, a move that Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson criticized for creating “grave privacy risks for millions of Americans.”
