Democrats plan Trump-administration probes; GAO DOGE report shows agencies resist oversight

Left · 1In late September the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), titled "DOGE: Congress and the Public Lack Assurance That Systems and Data Were Protected at Multiple Agencies". 1 Left · 2According to Wired, the report found that the agencies reviewed (the CFPB, Veterans Affairs, Education, NOAA, the SEC and the SBA) refused in some way to cooperate fully with investigators about DOGE's access to sensitive systems and data; Raw Story, summarising Wired, says GAO found all six resisted its inquiries. 1 2 Left · 2Every agency declined to name the DOGE staff it had hosted, even where that was already publicly reported; the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) did not name all six of its DOGE operatives, although Wired had identified three in February 2025. 1 2

Left · 1The CFPB sent GAO a letter accusing investigators of bias and calling the report "misleading". According to the report as quoted by Wired, the SBA and VA did not respond to requests for information on DOGE's access to their systems; both, and the Commerce Department, did not respond to Wired's requests for comment. 1 Left · 1A GAO spokesperson, Sarah Kaczmarek, said the office has faced increased challenges obtaining information from agencies over the past year and a half, which limits its ability to assure Congress that programs and data are protected. 1 Left · 1An anonymous Democratic congressional aide called the level of obstruction "surprising", saying agencies normally look for accommodations but here showed "a complete lack of willingness to kind of get to yes", and said members are preparing to use subpoenas and expect the administration to see the next Congress as hostile. 1

Left · 2Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said GAO told his office the Commerce Department is refusing to cooperate with his and Sen. Welch's request to investigate US export controls on AI-related national security risks. 1 2 Left · 2University of Houston law professor Emily Berman told Wired that contempt of Congress once carried real embarrassment but no longer does, noting three attorneys general have been held in contempt since 2012 with seemingly few repercussions, and that enforcement usually depends on a Justice Department under the president's control. 1 2 Left · 2Other options are limited: lawsuits could outlast the House's two-year term; Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), ranking member of House Judiciary, has pointed to the power of the purse, though Berman calls the budget a blunt tool because of large omnibus bills, as the DHS funding shutdown showed; and a Democratic Senate could stall nominations. Berman's summary, per Raw Story, was "There are no good options." 1 2