Musk-Led Task Force Gained Nuclear Network Accounts

Department of Government Efficiency staffers gained access to accounts on classified networks storing some of the nation’s top nuclear secrets according a report published concurrently with a lawsuit arguing the task force is unconstitutional and lacks congressional approval.

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A federal task force led by billionaire Elon Musk reportedly gained access to accounts on classified networks storing some of the nation’s top nuclear secrets, as a new lawsuit argues its effort to dismantle government agencies is unconstitutional and lacks congressional approval.

The Department of Energy denied a report from National Public Radio that two DOGE staffers accessed classified National Nuclear Security Administration systems, calling the story “false” in a statement sent to Information Security Media Group. “No DOGE personnel have accessed these NNSA systems.” A spokesperson said the two staffers in question – 23-year-old former SpaceX intern Luke Farritor and Miami-based venture capitalist Adam Ramada – “worked within the agency for several days and departed DOE in February.”

DOE declined to answer repeated questions about whether the DOGE staffers were granted accounts on NNSA systems or what vetting protocols were followed during their onboarding. Officials reportedly later told NPR the two did, in fact, have accounts.

The news comes as a lawsuit filed late Monday challenged DOGE’s efforts as unconstitutional, arguing that Congress has not authorized the sweeping workforce cuts that have already eliminated thousands of civilian agency jobs, with more reductions expected to dramatically reshape the federal government.

The lawsuit – filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California by a coalition of city governments, nonprofits and labor unions – argues President Donald Trump lacks the “authority to reorganize, downsize or otherwise transform the agencies of the federal government, unless and until Congress authorizes such action.” It also claims DOGE was established and quickly partnered with the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget “to serve his goals of radical transformation.”

“DOGE has no authority at all to dictate to the agencies created and governed by Congress any level of staffing cut or spending reduction,” the plaintiffs wrote.

Cybersecurity and national security experts warn that the task force’s actions are leaving government systems increasingly exposed, as key cyberteams face growing uncertainty. Whistleblower complaints and other reports have also disclosed that DOGE’s cybersecurity lapses may have left some systems vulnerable to foreign exploitation (see: Whistleblower Complaint Exposes DOGE Cybersecurity Failures).

Neither of the DOGE staffers who worked within DOE appeared to have prior experience handling classified information, according to NPR. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.