A group of six young engineers, most in their early 20s and with minimal government experience, have gained extensive access to sensitive federal IT systems as part of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative.
The engineers - aged between 19 and 24 - now hold high-level positions within key government agencies including the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and General Services Administration (GSA). Most concerning to oversight experts is their A-suite level clearance, granting them unrestricted access to government facilities and IT infrastructure.
Among them is Edward Coristine, who recently graduated high school and is currently enrolled at Northeastern University. Despite his limited experience, Coristine has been conducting reviews of GSA employees' code and job functions. Another team member, Akash Bobba, previously interned at Meta and Palantir before being appointed as an "expert" at OPM.
The rapid elevation of these young engineers has raised serious concerns about proper vetting and security protocols. "We have these actors who are not really public officials gaining access to the most sensitive data in government," notes Don Moynihan, public policy professor at the University of Michigan.
The situation became more alarming after DOGE personnel attempted to access classified information at the US Agency for International Development (USAID). When senior USAID security officials blocked this attempt, they were placed on administrative leave.
Most of the engineers have direct connections to Musk through previous internships at his companies like SpaceX and Neuralink. At least two have ties to Peter Thiel, the Palantir co-founder known for his criticism of democratic institutions.
Legal experts emphasize the unprecedented nature of granting such broad authority to individuals lacking relevant experience. "It is very unlikely they have the expertise to understand either the law or the administrative needs that surround these agencies," says Nick Bednar, law professor at the University of Minnesota.
The placement of these engineers in critical government roles, combined with their extensive system access, has sparked debate about proper oversight and the risks of allowing private sector figures to gain such influence over federal operations.