A recent **WIRED** probe has uncovered the workings of the Elon Musk-led **Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)**, and the results are causing substantial alarm. The report indicates that the division is predominantly populated by a cohort of recent college graduates — some lacking any previous government experience, with at least one still pursuing studies.
These Musk supporters, including Amanda Scales, the newly appointed Chief of Staff at the **Office of Personnel Management (OPM)**, are integral to Musk’s strategy to augment his sway across various federal entities. The investigation also stresses a notable link between some of these new hires and billionaire Peter Thiel, whose fellowship initiative has served as a conduit for emerging talent in the libertarian-inclined tech and political arenas.
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While the DOGE executive order, enacted by Donald Trump, technically curtails Musk’s power to the **U.S. Digital Service**, various allies — including these novice software developers — have succeeded in obtaining significant positions within the OPM and the **General Services Administration (GSA)**. The GSA is tasked with the construction, management, and preservation of federal facilities, lending considerable weight to these appointments.
The **WIRED** report pinpointed six young men, between 19 and 24 years old, listed in internal OPM records as “experts” or “special advisors” to the agency’s director. These individuals — Akash Bobba, Edward Coristine, Luke Farritor, Gautier Cole Killian, Gavin Kliger, and Ethan Shaotran — were swiftly advanced into governmental roles after completing internships with Musk or prominent tech firms like **Meta**, despite their limited backgrounds.
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Documents acquired by **WIRED** indicate that these recruits have been furnished with official GSA email accounts and A-suite level clearance, granting them access to confidential information and IT infrastructures. This clearance even permits them to work on the uppermost floor of the GSA. Per anonymous sources, Edward Coristine — a freshman at Northeastern University who just recently graduated high school — has already taken part in discussions where GSA personnel were expected to validate their work and coding to him.
These disclosures amplify the mounting discomfort regarding Musk’s purported “budget cuts,” which increasingly seem to be elements of a wider power consolidation. The **X** and **Tesla** CEO has recently moved to assert control over the **U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)**, which oversees billions in international assistance. Even more concerning, Musk has reportedly established sway over the **U.S. Treasury’s payment systems**, the systems that manage the federal government’s $6 trillion budget.
While Musk and his team assert they only possess “read-only” access to the Treasury’s payment systems, the scenario is without precedent. An unelected assembly of unvetted tech operatives now wields direct influence over the financial mechanisms of the U.S. government, prompting critical inquiries regarding accountability and oversight.