GAO Report Exposes Widespread Agency Refusal to Cooperate with DOGE Oversight Investigation

Key facts

• GAO released a late September report titled 'DOGE: Congress and the Public Lack Assurance That Systems and Data Were Protected at Multiple Agencies'
• Agencies including CFPB, VA, Department of Education, NOAA, SEC, and SBA refused to cooperate with the GAO investigation into DOGE
• The CFPB refused to name all six DOGE operatives detailed to the agency, though WIRED identified Nikhil Rajpal, Chris Young, and Gavin Kliger in February 2025
• DOGE members Jeremy Lewin and Jordan Wick were also part of the CFPB team
• WIRED previously reported that VA DOGE affiliate Sahil Lavingia sought to use AI to write code for agency systems
• SBA DOGE affiliates Edward 'Big Balls' Coristine and Donald Park were granted broad access to financial and loan systems
• Senator Ron Wyden stated the Commerce Department is refusing to cooperate with his and Senator Welch's request to investigate U.S. export controls for AI-fueled national security risks
• Since 2012, three attorneys general have been held in contempt of Congress with few repercussions; last month, Congress held Leon Black in contempt for refusing to testify about Jeffrey Epstein connections
• Representative Jamie Raskin suggested using 'the power of the purse' to pressure the executive branch
• A recent partial government shutdown occurred after Senate Democrats refused to pass an appropriations bill including DHS funding following the killing of Alex Pretti by CBP agents during Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota