Overview

• The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under Elon Musk, is consolidating federal databases into a single system to streamline operations and detect fraud, per a March executive order.
• Cybersecurity analysts caution that merging sensitive data into one repository creates a 'master key' for hackers, increasing the risk of large-scale breaches.
• Civil rights advocates and federal employees fear the centralized database could be used to target political opponents or influence the allocation of government services.
• Reports reveal procedural lapses, including a Department of Homeland Security visa site lacking VPN protection, raising questions about data security protocols.
• Legal challenges and affidavits, including one from former government technologist Erie Meyer, allege that Musk's team is ignoring established safeguards, further compounding risks.