The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly implemented artificial intelligence systems to monitor internal communications across multiple federal agencies, specifically targeting employee remarks critical of President Trump or his policies, according to a Reuters investigation based on interviews with nearly 20 sources and review of hundreds of legal documents.
At the Environmental Protection Agency, two senior officials confirmed being notified about the AI surveillance program designed to identify what administrators consider "disloyal" speech, including negative comments about Trump or his political ally Elon Musk.
The controversial monitoring initiative has drawn sharp criticism from government transparency advocates and legal experts who argue it may violate constitutional protections for federal workers while potentially breaching the Presidential Records Act through the department's use of the encrypted messaging platform Signal. DOGE staff have allegedly been using Signal's disappearing message feature for official communications, a practice that circumvents federal documentation requirements designed to preserve government records. Congressional Democrats have begun demanding investigations into whether the surveillance constitutes unlawful political discrimination against civil servants, with some lawmakers comparing the initiative to historical precedents of government overreach during previous administrations.
The Trump administration has declined to address specific allegations about the AI monitoring program but maintains the approach falls within legitimate efforts to ensure efficient government operations. Legal scholars note the program raises unprecedented questions about the balance between workplace oversight and First Amendment rights in the digital age, particularly regarding the use of machine learning algorithms to analyze employee sentiment. Government ethics watchdogs warn such surveillance could have chilling effects on legitimate policy debates within federal agencies while creating new vulnerabilities for sensitive communications. The disclosure comes amid growing scrutiny of DOGE's expanding role in federal operations since its creation under the current administration, with critics arguing the department has repeatedly pushed legal boundaries in its use of emerging technologies for political purposes.
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