Washington, D.C. – A representative from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) gained access to the Energy Department’s IT system with the approval of Energy Secretary Chris Wright, sources familiar with the matter revealed. Wright permitted Luke Farritor, a former intern at SpaceX, to access basic IT services like email and Microsoft 365, despite objections from the department’s general counsel and chief information offices.
Farritor was not subjected to a standard background investigation before being granted access, raising concerns among department officials. The move came before Ryan Riedel, another SpaceX engineer, was named chief information officer of the Energy Department, tasked with overseeing tech acquisitions and safeguarding personnel data.
Aside from the issues surrounding IT access, Energy Department employees, including those at the National Nuclear Security Administration, have been receiving buyout emails offering the opportunity to leave their jobs with pay until the end of September. This development is significant as it involves employees engaged in manufacturing and maintaining the nation’s nuclear stockpile and other critical national security work.
Furthermore, newly hired Energy Department staff in offices established after the passage of infrastructure and climate legislation are receiving warnings of probationary status, potentially facing immediate termination. The department’s ongoing reorganization includes offices like the Grid Deployment Office, focused on modernizing and securing the nation’s electrical grid.
Earlier reports indicated that 60 Energy Department employees were placed on administrative leave due to their involvement in diversity, equity, and inclusion issues, adding to the turmoil within the department. Requests for comments from the Energy Department spokesperson and SpaceX remain unanswered, indicating a lack of transparency surrounding recent developments in internal operations.