Three Democratic Ranking Members of Congress wrote a letter to NASA’s acting Commissioner earlier today about the role of the “so called” Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at NASA. This letter followed a February 6th letter on the same issue, which received a less than open NASA response.
The letter expressed strong concerns about the activities of DOGE, including Elon Musk’s conflict of interest with the agency, and asked several questions it needed answered to feel more confident. This quote provides the general tenor of the letter:
While we appreciate the agency’s confirmation that a DOGE-affiliated individual (“DOGE Agent”) will be embedded inside NASA, that fact only sharpens our fears regarding DOGE’s potential to inflict harm – intentionally or unintentionally – on the agency and its mission. We must reiterate our deep alarm at this situation. Given DOGE’s destructive seizure of power throughout the federal government and the unique conflicts-of-interest that Elon Musk possesses with NASA, DOGE’s presence at the agency creates an unprecedented threat from within NASA’s own house. We are thus compelled to demand further explanation on a number of points related to DOGE’s relationship and activities with NASA. Complete transparency on the part of the agency is required. NASA must fully disclose the nature of its interactions with DOGE so the Committee can assess the full extent of the danger.
This does not sound like a normal conversation about a standard audit, which is already regularly done by the agency’s Inspector General. No, phrases such as “inflict harm,” “unprecedented threat,” and “full extent of the danger” shows we are dealing with a completely different situation.
Secret audits administered by a billionaire and his band of teenagers should not give anyone any sense of comfort or any confidence that the work will be above board. We appear to be going the route of Russia, but given the condition of its space program we may want to reconsider.
Let’s hope Congress keeps on pushing, even if half of the Congress remains asleep while the DOGE destruction continues.
Our Awesome Universe 