Musk’s DOGE Expands Campaign to SEC
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has now set its sights on the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), according to a report from Politico. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report states that DOGE is “at the gates” of the SEC as part of its broader program of searching out and destroying government wastage.
DOGE Calls for Public Help
DOGE has expanded its operations, creating over 30 affiliate pages on X to oversee various agencies. One of them, DOGE SEC, issued a public appeal for assistance on Feb. 17, requesting individuals to report cases of “waste, fraud, and abuse” at the SEC.
“Please DM this account with tips on how to find and deal with waste, fraud, and abuse related to the Securities and Exchange Commission,” DOGE SEC stated.
Musk’s History with the SEC
Elon Musk has a history of clashing with the SEC. In one recent case, the agency accused Musk of shortchanging Twitter stock investors by more than $150 million. Musk has also criticized the SEC as a “totally broken organization” and stating that it wastes too much time on trivial matters while ignoring true financial crimes.
Lawmakers Express Concerns
Democratic legislators like Rep. Maxine Waters have already shown concern regarding Musk’s potential influence over the SEC. DOGE might get control of the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT), which is a massive trading surveillance system, that some fear could be utilized by Musk in his interest.
As Politico news reports, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed those concerns, committing that President Trump has promised there will be no conflicts of interest. Musk himself pledged to recuse from any conflict, as reported.
DOGE Spreads Its Wings
DOGE’s actions don’t end at the SEC. On Feb. 17, a federal court opened up sensitive student loan data at the Department of Education to DOGE, reported ABC News. In addition, the Associated Press had previously reported that DOGE is also looking for taxpayer data at the Internal Revenue Service.
Leadership Changes at the SEC
The SEC is now being led in an acting capacity by Chair Mark Uyeda until President Trump’s nominee, Paul Atkins, gets confirmed. Now that DOGE has put increasing pressure on the federal agencies, its next actions against the SEC will be awaited with bated breath.
