The CIA and NSA are on high alert. Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or D.O.G.E, has Washington’s intelligence chiefs fearing a purge. According to a report from Bloomberg, sources from within both agencies say D.O.G.E’s aggressive push to cut out what Elon and the Trump administration call “waste and disloyalty” could hit national security next.
Former senior CIA officials have warned Congress to take notice. Paul Pillar, an ex-senior officer at the CIA, told reporters, “There’s no reason to believe intelligence agencies will get special treatment.”
So far, Elon’s D.O.G.E has disrupted key departments like the Justice Department, USAID, and the Treasury. Critics and lawmakers alike now believe Elon is looking to dismantle bureaucratic resistance in America’s most secretive agencies next.
The fear is that Elon’s access to sensitive government information—data on payments, agency employees, and intelligence priorities—could lead to sweeping staff cuts and power realignments.
Elon’s takeover rattles Washington insiders
The paranoia started when Elon’s D.O.G.E quietly gained access to Treasury Department payment systems, which process trillions of dollars each year. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed this during an interview with Bloomberg TV, assuring that Treasury operations remain intact despite Elon’s oversight.
“We’re aligned,” Scott said. “This is methodical, and it’s going to save the American people a lot of money.” Then things spiraled after a top D.O.G.E staffer resigned following reports linking him to a racist social media account. Treasury staff became uneasy about Elon’s motives.
Civil servants feared Elon’s outside team had too much control over sensitive systems. That unease has spread to intelligence agencies now bracing for D.O.G.E’s next steps.
The CIA has already moved to protect itself. John Ratcliffe, the agency’s director, offered buyouts to long-time staff in an effort to “refocus priorities” on high-level threats like China. Democrats in Congress, however, see it differently.
Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, expressed concerns over reports that the CIA shared personnel data with the White House. “I’m deeply concerned this could lead to mass firings of provisional employees on the basis of loyalty,” Himes said.
Adding to the tension, Michael Ellis, a Trump ally with a history of intelligence reform advocacy, was named as deputy CIA director on Monday. Ellis helped write Project 2025, a controversial plan that recommends firing intelligence staff accused of “abusing their positions of trust.” Trump loyalists say the intelligence community has been weaponized by Democratic leaders, and Elon’s team is set on rooting them out.
Trump’s old grudge with intelligence resurfaces
Elon’s actions at D.O.G.E fit perfectly into Trump’s ongoing battle with US intelligence. Since day one, Trump has clashed with agencies like the CIA, which concluded that Russian operatives interfered in the 2016 election to boost Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton.
Trump called those findings a “Russia hoax.” He famously dismissed US intelligence assessments during a 2018 press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, “President Putin says it’s not Russia. I don’t see any reason why it would be.”
The relationship worsened when a CIA whistleblower reported that Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Joe Biden. That triggered Trump’s first impeachment. Things hit another low when Trump revoked the security clearances of 50 former intelligence officials who had questioned Russian disinformation surrounding Hunter Biden’s laptop scandal.
Now Trump and Elon seem united in their mission to break what they view as a shadow bureaucracy. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee to oversee all 18 US intelligence agencies, echoed those sentiments at her recent Senate hearing.
She said the intelligence world has been used to undermine Trump’s presidency. Gabbard added that she would encourage a culture of scrutiny and tough questioning within the agencies.
Meanwhile, the FBI has already faced Elon’s wrath. The Justice Department fired several senior FBI leaders, and the bureau handed over the names of 5,000 agents who worked on cases tied to the January 6 Capitol riot. Elon’s team reportedly wants to determine if political bias influenced those investigations.
Officials are now scrambling to protect their turf. Ratcliffe’s CIA has been described by insiders as “in survival mode.” Democratic lawmakers have voiced suspicions about Project 2025 and its calls for intelligence reform, with some labeling it a blueprint for political control of national security.
At the NSA, top brass is reportedly tracking every move Elon makes. Paul Pillar warned that Elon and Trump’s agenda is unlikely to stop at budget cuts. “No question, the intelligence community is a big chip on Trump’s shoulder,” he said.
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This articles is written by : Nermeen Nabil Khear Abdelmalak
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