President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that appears to empower the Department of Government Efficiency to gain “full and prompt access” to unclassified federal agency records, data, software systems and information technology systems.
While DOGE is not explicitly mentioned in the order, it directs the heads of government agencies to ensure that “federal officials designated by the President,” agency heads or their designees have full access to these records “for purposes of pursuing Administration priorities related to the identification and elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse.”
This includes facilitating and authorizing information sharing and consolidation between and among agencies. Agencies are given a 30-day deadline to rescind or modify all guidance that would make that harder.
While the order is limited to unclassified data, agency heads are directed to review classified information policies and submit their recommendations to the Office of Management and Budget on whether the classifications should be eliminated or modified to “to achieve the goals set forth” in the order.
Agency heads are also directed to ensure the federal government will be given “unfettered access to comprehensive data from all state programs that receive federal funding.”
This comes as DOGE continues to seek access to federal systems and sensitive government agency data.
Earlier Thursday, a federal judge blocked the Social Security Administration from giving DOGE access to sensitive agency data, including data containing individuals’ personally identifiable information, accusing them of going on a “fishing expedition.”
