In a dramatic turn of events, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has found itself at the center of controversy after an investigative episode of 60 Minutes aired footage of DOGE staffers entering a federal building.
The three young men were seen entering the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in Washington, D.C., as part of what appeared to be an effort to shut the agency down.
This bold move has raised serious concerns about transparency, data security, and the qualifications of Musk’s team.
The Foot Soldiers of DOGE: Who Are They?
The 60 Minutes clip shows three individuals, believed to be part of Musk’s inner circle at DOGE, walking into the CFPB on February 7th. Accompanied by a bodyguard, the men were dressed casually, wearing jackets and backpacks, a stark contrast to the seriousness of their mission.
According to Hanna Hickman, a CFPB lawyer who was dismissed during the shake-up:
“We heard from our colleagues that they’re camped out in the basement. They’ve got papers up on the windows to keep people from looking in. And they’ve been accessing data, certainly.”
Hickman also claimed that the group likely consisted of “software engineers” or “college dropouts” with limited government experience—a detail that’s fueling public concern about their qualifications.
Musk’s Silent Message: ‘Rest in Peace’ to the CFPB
Just hours after the DOGE staff entered the agency, Elon Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a chilling message:
“Rest in peace”—a clear signal that the CFPB’s future was in jeopardy.
Soon after, President Donald Trump assigned Russell Vought, the chief of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to lead the CFPB in an acting capacity. Vought quickly made his intentions clear:
- He halted funding for the CFPB, stating it was no longer “reasonably necessary” for the agency to carry out its duties.
- He also sent an email instructing CFPB employees to cease working immediately.
What Were the DOGE Staff Doing Inside the CFPB?
Reports from 60 Minutes suggest that the DOGE team had unprecedented access to the CFPB’s sensitive data systems—information typically protected by strict security protocols.
While the CFPB’s Chief Operating Officer, Adam Martinez, claimed that the DOGE staff underwent:
- Cybersecurity training
- Privacy protection training
- Signed nondisclosure agreements (NDAs)
A former CFPB technologist, who resigned after the takeover, criticized these measures as insufficient, pointing out that:
“There was no mention of DOGE employees undergoing a background investigation.”
This raises concerns about whether proper protocols were followed, especially since the data handled by the CFPB involves private financial information.
The Mystery Around Musk’s Involvement
Despite the chaos, a senior White House official stated that Elon Musk himself was not directly involved in DOGE’s operations at the CFPB. Instead, it was Russell Vought who was calling the shots.
When CBS News reached out for clarification on what the DOGE staff were doing at the agency, the White House declined to comment, leaving the public in the dark about the real purpose behind these actions.
Who Are the DOGE Employees?
The identities of the DOGE staff remain largely unknown. Early reports suggest that many of them are:
- Under the age of 26
- Have little to no prior work experience in government operations
It’s unclear if the young men captured in the 60 Minutes footage have been previously identified as part of Musk’s team.
