Two senior security officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were suspended from duty on Saturday night, following a clash with officials from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an office created by Elon Musk.
According to CNN sources, DOGE personnel physically attempted to enter USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., but were stopped by security staff. DOGE officials demanded access to USAID security systems and personnel files, threatening to call federal marshals if they were not allowed in. Two sources also claimed that DOGE requested access to classified information, which only those with special clearances can have.
Three sources confirmed that, following the tensions, DOGE officials managed to gain access to USAID headquarters. The incident, which had not been previously reported, has sparked strong reactions among lawmakers as DOGE, which is aligned with the Trump administration, seeks to exert more control over the federal government in an effort to cut spending.
“Reports that individuals without proper authorization may have accessed classified USAID facilities, as well as the personal information of American citizens, are extremely serious and unprecedented,” Senator Jeanne Shaheen said Sunday. “We are immediately seeking answers to any potential national security implications and are organizing a bipartisan group of senators to address this issue as soon as the Senate returns tomorrow,” added Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee.
The incident has raised deep concerns about the security and integrity of information in federal agencies.