House Speaker Mike Johnson has said that Elon Musk is "inside" the federal agencies with new algorithms crawling through spending transactions

DOGE has entered what one senior USAID official describes as "God mode." According to this source, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency now possesses full, unrestricted access to the agency’s digital infrastructure—including absolute control over systems relied upon by Americans in conflict zones, the ability to oversee and manipulate financial mechanisms that have historically allocated tens of billions of dollars, and potentially much more.

This account, along with testimony from multiple employees across federal agencies, provides the clearest picture yet of just how deeply DOGE has embedded itself within the federal government’s systems—and the vast amount of sensitive data now within its reach.

In the coming weeks, the team is expected to gain access to IT systems at the CDC and Federal Aviation Administration, having already done so at NASA, according to sources inside those agencies. At least one DOGE ally appears to be actively working to establish backdoor access to critical government systems. Thomas Shedd, a former Tesla engineer who was recently appointed director of the Technology Transformation Services (TTS), has requested privileged access to 19 different IT systems overseen by TTS teams, according to two federal employees familiar with his request. This level of control would grant Shedd the power not only to view and modify federal data but also to manage access permissions for others. (In a written statement, Will Powell, the acting press secretary for the General Services Administration, which oversees TTS, defended Shedd’s request, stating that he requires such access to quickly identify "areas for optimization and efficiencies" and is working with "appropriate GSA officials" to adhere to existing protocols.)

Over the past few days, we have spoken with civil servants across numerous agencies, all of whom requested anonymity out of fear—not just for their own jobs, but for the broader functioning of the federal government. Their accounts reveal the extraordinary level of authority DOGE has already accumulated. Federal agencies are typically structured to operate independently, both to fulfill specialized missions and to shield them from external political influence. Now, many effectively report to Elon Musk. (Neither the White House nor DOGE responded to requests for comment. Earlier this week, a White House official claimed Musk is not the head of DOGE. However, he is clearly its de facto leader.)

Among the agencies we investigated, USAID is the only one where we could confirm DOGE has achieved unrestricted control over the entire digital infrastructure. (Since taking office, the Trump administration has sought to effectively dismantle USAID.) But as Musk and his inner circle gain access to an increasing number of federal databases and IT networks, their unfettered reach at USAID serves as a potential preview of what could unfold elsewhere.

At NASA, for instance, this could mean exposure to sensitive government technologies with defense applications. At the CDC, it could allow access to millions of Americans' private health data and even laboratories housing deadly pathogens. At the Treasury Department, such authority would enable DOGE operatives to view Americans’ names, Social Security numbers, and financial records. "It’s not far-fetched to think they could access the bank account and routing numbers of every person in the United States," the senior USAID official said. "What do you do with that information? I had to ask myself—do I even file my taxes this year? I actually had to sit down and think about it."