Conflicts of Interest at DOGE

This blog is part of my ongoing effort to maintain a record of my written communication expressing concern about the actions of the current presidential administration that lead to unnecessary (and in some cases cruel) harm to others, to the U.S., or to the global community. 

I wrote the following letter regarding concerns over the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.  Feel free to copy any or all of this letter for use in communicating with your own elected officials.  

How to reach your U.S. Senators:

https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

How to reach your U.S. Representative:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

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Dear Senator <Name>,

Dear Representative <Name>,

As one of your constituents, I am writing to ask that you work quickly to increase oversight and to eliminate the significant conflicts of interest that, at the present time, are clearly evident between the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the IRS, Treasury, Health and Human Services, and other government agencies to which DOGE has unacceptably broad access.  

I think we can all agree that DOGE must not illegally access, analyze, or misuse our private financial, medical, or personal records for political or other purposes that would give an unfair and disproportionate competitive advantage to any individual, corporation, or other entity in the United States.  Yet, by allowing Elon Musk to access this information without stringent oversight is the equivalent of giving the fox the keys to the henhouse.  And, we have enough problems with hens and eggs at the moment.  Let's not add to them.

Allowing Elon Musk access to the tax records of his competitors in the corporate/business world is the very definition of conflict of interest.  I have been a professor at a public university for over 25 years and every time I submit any kind of application for funding (grant, contract, or otherwise), I am required to sign a statement disclosing any financial conflict of interest (i.e.,  an investment in a business or other entity  that stands to benefit financially from subsequent funding).  Failure to disclose is grounds for immediate termination, despite the fact that I am tenured.   Yet, while I am held to such ethical standards by federal funding agencies (as well as by state government), a double standard seems to be in play now for Elon Musk. Why is it OK that he and his team can proceed with such obvious financial and other conflicts of interest while so many of us "ordinary Americans" engaged in public service and research are held to a tighter ethical standard?

I am deeply concerned that DOGE is likely to be forcing  its way into the government’s most tightly protected databases and systems, without consideration of the longstanding privacy safeguards mandated by the Privacy Act of 1974, the Internal Revenue Code, and other laws.  The lack of safeguards and transparency in combination with the speed that DOGE is moving forward all but guarantees that mistakes will be made and that information will be leaked, released, or abused.  

And if the OGE (Office of Government Ethics) is working to prevent these conflicts of interest as is its mission, it is time for more transparency in how such prevention is moving forward to keep pace with the conflicts of interest that are expanding every day in our current federal administration.  

As your constituent, I urge you to take strong action to ensure immediate and transparent oversight into DOGE’s actions and to do what ethically must be done -- prevent conflicts of interest that all but guarantee intrusive privacy invasions and misuse of information.  

Sincerely,