Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has recruited a new wave of young engineers, including 23-year-old Indian-origin Akash Bobba, a University of California, Berkeley graduate with a background in artificial intelligence and software development.
Bobba’s appointment comes amid growing scrutiny over DOGE’s hiring practices and the level of access granted to its personnel within key US government agencies.
The DOGE initiative, launched via executive order during Donald Trump’s presidency, was originally intended to modernise federal software systems and optimise bureaucratic efficiency.
The project has drawn criticism for its lack of oversight, particularly in relation to the security clearances issued to its personnel.
Bobba and five other engineers—Edward Coristine, Luke Farritor, Gautier Cole Killian, Gavin Kliger, and Ethan Shaotran—have been assigned roles within DOGE despite limited prior experience in government operations.
Akash Bobba at DOGE
Bobba, who earned his degree from Berkeley’s elite Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (M.E.T.) programme, previously interned at Meta and hedge fund Bridgewater Associates.
His resume also includes a stint at Peter Thiel’s Palantir Technologies, a company known for its work with government data analytics.
His professional trajectory suggests strong ties to Silicon Valley’s most influential figures, particularly those with close affiliations to Musk.
Despite his relatively young age, Bobba has secured a high-ranking position at DOGE, reporting directly to Chief of Staff Amanda Scales, a former executive at Musk’s AI company, xAI.
As per the report from WIRED, Bobba and Coristine hold working emails at the General Services Administration (GSA), granting them A-suite level security clearance.
This designation allows unrestricted access to sensitive government facilities and IT systems, a privilege usually reserved for long-serving officials with extensive background checks.
A viral image showing four DOGE engineers in government offices sparked widespread debate on social media, with many questioning their qualifications and the potential risks posed by their access to classified data.
The controversy intensified after reports emerged of DOGE employees attempting to gain unauthorised entry into US Agency for International Development (USAID) databases, prompting an internal investigation.
DOGE’s recruitment strategy fuels concerns
The hiring of Bobba and his peers highlights a broader issue regarding regulatory capture—where individuals with deep private sector affiliations influence policymaking in ways that may serve their own interests rather than public welfare.
With multiple DOGE members having ties to Thiel and other influential tech investors, critics argue that the agency could be prioritising corporate agendas over national security.
Government officials have voiced concerns over the extent of access DOGE engineers hold within critical institutions.
Reports indicate that two senior security officers who attempted to restrict DOGE personnel from classified materials at USAID were subsequently placed on forced leave.
Further investigations by Reuters and the Associated Press confirmed that DOGE had improperly accessed confidential government documents, raising alarms about the agency’s oversight mechanisms.
While DOGE was envisioned as a tool to streamline government processes, its execution has sparked debates over whether such modernisation efforts should be led by individuals with little to no public sector experience.
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