Elon Musk’s controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is allegedly using artificial intelligence to monitor internal communications within at least one federal agency for signs of hostility toward former President Donald Trump and his policies, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
The claims, which have emerged as the Trump administration undertakes sweeping efforts to reshape the federal workforce, suggest a new and potentially unprecedented use of surveillance tools within the U.S. government to detect political dissent.
The monitoring, sources say, is part of an effort led by DOGE technologists—handpicked by Musk—to assess employee sentiment and flag messages considered “anti-Trump.” If confirmed, this would represent a dramatic escalation in the administration’s attempts to enforce loyalty and discipline within federal ranks already rocked by mass layoffs and austerity measures.
DOGE, formed to streamline and digitize government operations, operates with limited transparency and has bypassed traditional vetting and oversight processes, sources allege. The team’s opaque practices have raised growing concerns among civil liberties experts and federal employees alike.
One key concern is the department’s reported use of Signal, an encrypted messaging platform. Although commonly used for privacy, its deployment within a government context—particularly without formal guidelines—has sparked alarms over data security, accountability, and legal oversight.
“This would be a significant departure from how federal agencies are traditionally monitored or managed,” said a senior federal official, who requested anonymity due to fear of reprisal.
Musk has neither publicly confirmed nor denied DOGE’s internal surveillance activities. In previous public remarks, he defended the department’s mandate to “cut waste and root out inefficiency,” but offered few details on the tools or methods being employed.
The use of AI to police ideological sentiment within the civil service could potentially open new legal and ethical debates about surveillance, political targeting, and employee rights. Critics say such practices could chill free speech, suppress dissent, and erode trust within already demoralized agencies.
As of now, the White House has not responded to requests for comment. DOGE, which reports directly to the executive branch, has also declined to issue a formal statement.
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