The DOGE Data Breach
A Silent Coup on U.S. Agencies
Since the start of the new administration, Elon Musk, through his role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration, has gained unprecedented access to multiple federal data systems. This includes sensitive databases across various agencies. This breach is not a traditional cyberattack but rather an internal governmental takeover of federal data infrastructure under the guise of efficiency and fraud detection initiatives. DOGE, Musk’s department, has been given direct administrative control or privileged access to these systems, allowing them to view, manipulate, and, in some cases, disable access to public data portals. Below is an accounting of the federal data systems affected.
How the Breach Happened
This data breach is the result of a coordinated policy shift rather than an unauthorized cyber intrusion. It unfolded through a series of strategic actions aimed at reshaping agency leadership, restricting access to key systems, and privatizing federal data management. The first step was administrative restructuring, where the Trump administration strategically replaced leadership in key agencies with loyalists. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was then granted broad authority to review and "reform" federal operations, allowing Musk’s department to override existing agency controls and dictate policy shifts. Following this, agency takeovers were executed by installing DOGE-aligned officials as acting directors in agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the General Services Administration (GSA). These officials swiftly shut down regulatory activities and granted DOGE administrative control over internal data systems, effectively bypassing traditional oversight mechanisms. With this control in place, system access and disruptions followed. Some federal databases, including those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and USAID, were taken offline under the pretense of restructuring, cutting off access to vital public health and foreign aid information. At the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), restrictions were placed on the federal employee database, allowing Musk’s team to filter out perceived political opponents. Meanwhile, the CFPB was effectively dismantled, ceasing its oversight of financial institutions and leaving consumers vulnerable to predatory practices. The final phase involved the privatization of data management. Reports indicate that Musk’s companies—including X (formerly Twitter), Neuralink, and Starlink—have been contracted to "modernize" federal data handling. This raises serious concerns about whether government data is being transferred to private entities under the guise of efficiency. Additionally, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s climate data is now under review, fueling speculation that it may be manipulated to downplay climate change risks and support deregulation efforts. This multi-phase takeover has allowed DOGE and its affiliated officials to seize control over critical government data, restrict public transparency, and potentially alter information for political or financial gain, all without the need for a traditional cybersecurity breach.
Potential Impact of the Breach
Data Archiving Resources
The consequences of this unprecedented federal data breach are far-reaching, disproportionately affecting disabled people and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities across economic, healthcare, civil rights, and national security spheres. By gaining access to critical government systems, DOGE has positioned itself to reshape policies, reallocate resources, and restrict public oversight, leading to devastating consequences for these historically marginalized groups. One of the most immediate concerns is the economic impact on disabled and BIPOC individuals. With access to U.S. Treasury payment systems and Bureau of Labor Statistics data, DOGE could distort economic indicators in ways that disproportionately harm low-income and minority communities. The dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has left these groups vulnerable to predatory lending and financial fraud, removing critical safeguards that once prevented racially biased lending practices and disability-based financial discrimination. BIPOC communities are particularly at risk, as decades of discriminatory banking practices have already limited financial mobility, and now, with fewer protections, predatory financial schemes could push families into deeper economic instability. The loss of CFPB oversight also weakens protections against student loan discrimination, disproportionately impacting Black and Latinx borrowers who already face higher interest rates and greater student loan burdens. The healthcare consequences of this breach are equally severe. DOGE’s control over Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) data raises the likelihood of defunding or privatizing public health programs, which would devastate both disabled individuals and BIPOC communities—two groups that disproportionately rely on Medicaid, Medicare, and public health services. Increased eligibility barriers or reductions in Medicaid coverage could cut off life-saving medical treatments for disabled people, particularly those with chronic conditions who depend on continuous care. BIPOC individuals already experience higher rates of medical discrimination, and with less oversight and more privatization, racial disparities in healthcare access and treatment could widen dramatically. Additionally, serious privacy concerns emerge from DOGE’s access to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) database, which contains sensitive patient health records. If this data is shared with private companies such as Neuralink, it could lead to AI-driven health discrimination, where disabled individuals and BIPOC patients are deprioritized in insurance coverage, medical treatments, and experimental research programs. This type of discrimination is not hypothetical—there is already a long history of medical racism and eugenics-based policies that targeted disabled and Black communities under the guise of scientific advancement. The civil rights implications of this breach are staggering. The disabled community faces a direct threat to its independence and legal protections, as DOGE’s access to Department of Labor data could be used to weaken ADA protections. This means fewer workplace accommodations, reduced accessibility mandates, and less accountability for employers who discriminate against disabled workers. Similarly, BIPOC workers stand to lose labor protections, with corporations gaining unchecked power over employment rights, leading to increased workplace exploitation and discrimination. For disabled and BIPOC communities, the attack on civil rights extends beyond labor protections. The removal of CFPB protections also makes racially targeted financial exploitation easier, while funding cuts in education will disproportionately harm HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions. Without federal oversight, these institutions may experience major budget reductions, limiting access to education for thousands of Black and Brown students. The resulting educational disparities would have generational consequences, reinforcing economic inequality for decades. Finally, the national security risks of this breach pose significant dangers for marginalized groups. DOGE’s access to classified intelligence data could enable expanded domestic surveillance, targeting activists, racial justice groups, and disability rights advocates. Under Project 2025’s focus on dismantling civil rights infrastructure, it is likely that progressive advocacy groups would be monitored, infiltrated, or suppressed under the guise of national security concerns. Additionally, NOAA’s climate data could be manipulated to justify environmental policies that disproportionately harm BIPOC communities, which are already more likely to live in areas vulnerable to climate disasters, pollution, and environmental neglect. The DOGE data breach is not just an administrative overreach—it is a direct assault on the rights, protections, and futures of disabled people and BIPOC communities. By consolidating power over federal data systems, Trump’s administration has eliminated critical oversight mechanisms, creating a landscape where social policies could be altered or weaponized against marginalized groups. If left unchecked, the long-term consequences will deepen economic inequality, erode healthcare protections, and weaken civil rights protections for millions of people.
The Data Rescue Project is an effort to serve as a clearinghouse for data rescue-related efforts and data access points for public US governmental data that are currently at risk.
The Center for Open Data Enterprise (CODE) has created a tracker for organizations interested in downloading, archiving, and using data sources from the U.S. federal government.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
January 6 capitol riot data. Access to certain internal misconduct reports and public transparency data has been limited, reducing oversight on agency operations.
General Potential Harm
Could lead to mass surveillance, data manipulation, and the weaponization of law enforcement for political and private interests.
Impact on Disabled People
Increased surveillance, criminalization of neurodivergence and mental health conditions, loss of legal protections under the ADA, and heightened scrutiny of disability benefits and accommodations.
Benefit to Musk
Gaining access allows to monitor or suppress investigations into his companies, such as Tesla and SpaceX, thereby reducing legal and financial risks. Potential for FBI integration with his AI and surveillance technology (e.g., Starlink, X, Neuralink) to create new government contracts while enabling his companies' control over federal data.
Data Contained
Criminal, intelligence, cyber, biometric, financial, and national security data to investigate crimes, prevent threats, and enforce federal laws.
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Could result in the erasure of civil rights data, increased targeting of perceived political enemies, and the suppression of investigations into extremism, corruption, and discrimination.
Impact on BIPOC People
Intensified racial profiling, deletion of FBI data on hate crimes and police violence, expanded predictive policing, suppression of voting rights, and diminished enforcement of civil rights protections.
Benefit to Trump
Control over FBI data would enable Trump to oversee and potentially influence investigations, providing leverage over political adversaries and safeguarding his personal and business interests.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Grant funding suspended, review panels paused, and layoffs occurred.
General Potential Harm
Distort scientific research, undermine evidence-based policymaking, and disrupt funding for critical projects.
Impact on Disabled People
Research on accessibility, disability rights, and assistive technologies could be deleted or defunded, limiting advancements in disability-inclusive policies, education, and healthcare.
Benefit to Musk
Redirect federal funding to tech and AI projects aligned with his business interests, suppress regulatory science that challenges Tesla and SpaceX operations, and leverage insider knowledge for private sector advantage.
Data Contained
Scientific research funding, education programs, technology grants
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Enable the suppression of climate research, defunding of DEI initiatives, and redirection of funds toward politically motivated projects.
Impact on BIPOC People
Research on racial disparities in education, healthcare, and environmental justice could be erased or discredited, leading to policies that reinforce systemic inequities and cut funding for racial justice initiatives.
Benefit to Trump
Justify defunding scientific programs that contradict his administration’s policies, direct research funding toward politically favorable industries, and manipulate economic and climate data to benefit corporate allies and campaign donors.
Department of Defense (DoD) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
DEIA & LGBTQ+ content
General Potential Harm
Expose classified military intelligence, compromise cybersecurity, and centralize control of national defense in private hands, increasing risks of manipulation or misuse.
Impact on Disabled People
Could be used to justify expanded surveillance, weaken protections against military recruitment targeting disabled individuals, and cut funding for disability-inclusive defense policies.
Benefit to Musk
DoD contracts for SpaceX, Starlink, and AI technologies could expand significantly, allowing Musk to control key military communications and defense logistics while leveraging classified information for business advantage.
Data Contained
Military budgets, defense contracts, national security plans
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Enable selective intelligence leaks, justify authoritarian policies, and militarize domestic operations under the guise of national security.
Impact on BIPOC People
Could enable increased militarized policing, disproportionate targeting of BIPOC communities under national security policies, and intelligence manipulation to suppress activism and dissent.
Benefit to Trump
Use DoD intelligence to politically target opponents, consolidate power through military influence, and reward allies with defense contracts, securing financial and strategic advantages for his administration.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Removed Environmental Justice mapping tool (EJScreen) and Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), eliminating public access to pollution and socio-economic vulnerability data.
General Potential Harm
Manipulation, suppression, or destruction of critical environmental data, undermining public health, climate policy, and scientific integrity.
Impact on Disabled People
Increased health risks due to weakened environmental regulations and a lack of accessible emergency response planning.
Benefit to Musk
Preemptively adapt Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company’s environmental compliance to avoid regulatory scrutiny, lobby for favorable policies, and expand his control over federal research on energy and emissions.
Data Contained
Environmental regulations, pollution data, climate reports
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Justify weakening environmental regulations, gut climate policies, and shift enforcement to favor corporate polluters.
Impact on BIPOC People
Intensified exposure to pollution and toxic waste if regulatory rollbacks remove safeguards for environmental justice.
Benefit to Trump
Erase climate research unfavorable to his administration, weaken regulations that hinder fossil fuel allies, and attract corporate donations from industries benefiting from deregulation.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
HUDUser resources and serial publications
General Potential Harm
Privacy violations, discrimination, and exploitation of vulnerable populations.
Impact on Disabled People
Discrimination, loss of housing benefits, or restricted access to accommodations and accessible housing.
Benefit to Musk
Gain insights into housing policies and federal contracts, potentially benefiting his real estate ventures, or influence housing markets in his business interests.
Data Contained
Public housing data, urban development programs, homelessness statistics
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Weaken housing protections, especially for marginalized communities.
Impact on BIPOC People
Exclusion from housing programs, targeted discrimination in housing decisions, and exacerbated racial disparities in access to housing and community resources.
Benefit to Trump
Influence housing policies and federal programs to benefit his real estate business, and could target specific communities for political or financial gain.
Classified Government Data Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Unclear.
General Potential Harm
Potential misuse of intelligence for corporate or political gain, threats to national security.
Impact on Disabled People
Increased risks for disabled individuals in emergencies due to lack of intelligence safeguards.
Benefit to Musk
Potential access to classified technology and defense-related contracts for SpaceX and Starlink.
Data Contained
Foreign intelligence, identities of undercover agents, national security-sensitive information
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Increased surveillance on activists and marginalized groups, removal of DEI-focused intelligence analysis, expansion of border security policies.
Impact on BIPOC People
Increased racial profiling risks, threats to national security disproportionately impacting BIPOC communities.
Benefit to Trump
Access to classified intelligence for political leverage, ability to monitor opposition groups.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
HIV language guide, Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data, Social Vulnerability Index, Environmental Justice Index
General Potential Harm
Unauthorized access to sensitive health data, potential misuse of personal health information, disruption of healthcare services.
Impact on Disabled People
Loss of access to essential health services, increased healthcare costs.
Benefit to Musk
Opportunity to influence healthcare policies benefiting private healthcare investments. Access to vast amounts of health data for potential business ventures.
Data Contained
Medicare and Medicaid payment data, personal health information, healthcare provider details
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Privatization of healthcare services, reduction in public health funding, elimination of regulatory oversight.
Impact on BIPOC People
Disproportionate impact on BIPOC communities due to reduced healthcare access, widening of health disparities.
Benefit to Trump
Ability to reshape healthcare policies to align with political objectives. Reduction of government-funded health programs.
General Services Administration (GSA) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Elimination of 18F (digital services unit) and IRS Direct File free tax filing program. DOGE deployment of GSAi Chatbot.
General Potential Harm
Unauthorized access to sensitive data, potential misuse of government resources, disruption of federal operations.
Impact on Disabled People
Potential reduction in accessible government buildings and procurement contracts.
Benefit to Musk
Privileged access to government real estate and procurement contracts for his companies.
Data Contained
Federal real estate data, technology procurement information, internal communications
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Redirection of federal real estate assets toward private ownership, prioritization of corporate contracts over public interests.
Impact on BIPOC People
Potential displacement of BIPOC communities due to mismanaged federal real estate projects.
Benefit to Trump
Control over federal property usage, potential redirection of contracts to allies.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
DEIA, LGBT+, gender & sexual health data and resources, suspended grant funding, 15% ICR cap, paused research panels, and initiated layoffs, disrupting NIH projects.
General Potential Harm
Privacy violations and mass surveillance, scientific censorship, and the politicization of public health policies, endangering research integrity and patient confidentiality.
Impact on Disabled People
Disability-related health research and funding could be deprioritized or defunded, limiting access to medical advancements, assistive technology, and policy protections while reinforcing discriminatory healthcare practices.
Benefit to Musk
Allow Musk to leverage biomedical, AI, and genomic research for Neuralink, xAI, and Tesla’s biotech ventures, while securing federal contracts for AI-driven healthcare solutions and privatizing public health data for profit.
Data Contained
Biomedical, genomic, clinical, and public health data, including patient records, research, and disease surveillance, with controlled access for security.
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Manipulated to suppress research on LGBTQ+, racial, and disability health disparities, defund DEI initiatives, and reshape healthcare to align with conservative political priorities.
Impact on BIPOC People
Racial health disparities research could be erased or delegitimized, leading to reduced healthcare access, worsening health outcomes, and the rollback of civil rights protections in medical policy and funding.
Benefit to Trump
Align scientific research with conservative policies, suppress politically inconvenient findings, cut funding to marginalized communities, and reward corporate allies with exclusive access to health research and drug approvals.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Revoked the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database with over 5,000 records of misconduct related to federal law enforcement officials.
General Potential Harm
Enable suppression of investigations, political retaliation, corporate favoritism, and obstruction of justice.
Impact on Disabled People
Obstruction of civil rights investigations into disability discrimination, weakening ADA enforcement in education, employment, and healthcare.
Benefit to Musk
Preempt or suppress legal actions against his companies; insider knowledge on government legal strategies could provide a competitive business edge; classified national security data could benefit his defense and AI ventures.
Data Contained
Criminal investigations, law enforcement data, federal cases
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Dismantle civil rights protections, purge government officials who resist authoritarian control, and selectively prosecute political enemies while shielding allies.
Impact on BIPOC People
Civil rights lawsuits, police misconduct cases, and racial discrimination investigations could be sabotaged, worsening systemic racial injustice and enabling targeted law enforcement against communities of color.
Benefit to Trump
Obstruct or dismiss ongoing investigations into Trump’s businesses and legal liabilities; criminal prosecution of political rivals could be weaponized; sealed indictments and federal intelligence could be exploited to manipulate elections or silence opposition.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Removed climate-related research pages, triggering lawsuits over suppressed environmental data.
General Potential Harm
Misuse or mishandling of sensitive USDA data, which could compromise privacy, security, and public trust in government systems.
Impact on Disabled People
Discrimination, exclusion from essential services, or increased surveillance and profiling through the mishandling or misuse of data related to assistance programs.
Benefit to Musk
Use privileged access to benefit his businesses, including targeting subsidies, influencing agricultural policies, and leveraging insights for commercial advantage in areas like food production or rural services.
Data Contained
Agricultural statistics, food safety, rural development
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Weakened oversight and the prioritization of corporate or political interests over public welfare.
Impact on BIPOC People
Increased targeting, disenfranchisement, or exploitation, particularly in agriculture and food assistance programs.
Benefit to Trump
Use data access to support his campaign initiatives, influence agricultural policy in favor of his allies, and secure funding or support for rural development initiatives.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Removed or restricted access to aerodrome data, international charts, and flight tracking information, experienced outages in the NOTAM system and website, and faced issues with missing airmen registry records, raising concerns about transparency and aviation safety.
General Potential Harm
Manipulation of air traffic policies, weaken aviation safety, and compromise national security by exposing sensitive government and military flight data.
Impact on Disabled People
Airline accessibility protections could be weakened, leading to fewer accommodations and increased barriers for disabled travelers.
Benefit to Musk
Enables Musk to expedite SpaceX launch approvals, manipulate air traffic control regulations to favor Starlink and Tesla’s aerial projects, and suppress negative safety reports that could hinder his businesses.
Data Contained
Aviation regulations, flight safety records, air traffic data
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Accelerate privatization and deregulation of airspace, favoring corporate control over public safety and reducing government oversight of aviation operations.
Impact on BIPOC People
Worsen racial disparities in air travel safety, disproportionately affecting BIPOC communities near airports due to increased environmental hazards and corporate-driven airspace policies.
Benefit to Trump
Allows Trump to push for privatizing air traffic control, benefiting corporate allies like Musk while reducing federal oversight, and leveraging aviation policy changes to favor politically connected businesses.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
DEIA, environmental justice, women in leadership, Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC) data products. Obtained 'god mode' access to NASA systems, sparking security concerns.
General Potential Harm
Data could be privatized, restricted, or manipulated, reducing public access to critical scientific research and increasing corporate control over space exploration.
Impact on Disabled People
Removal of accessibility initiatives and the privatization of NASA’s data could exclude disabled scientists from STEM opportunities, limit accessible research formats, and weaken disaster preparedness for disabled communities.
Benefit to Musk
Could use privileged access satellite, climate, and aerospace data to benefit SpaceX, Tesla, and Starlink, while influencing NASA policy to divert funding toward private space initiatives and reduce government oversight of his businesses.
Data Contained
Earth science, space exploration, astrophysics, aeronautics, and human spaceflight, climate data, satellite imagery, planetary research, exoplanet discoveries, cosmic observations, and aerospace engineering advancements.
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Push for deregulation, defunding of climate research, and elimination of DEIA programs could lead to the suppression of environmental data, militarization of space assets, and monopolization of NASA’s resources by private entities.
Impact on BIPOC People
Suppression of climate and environmental justice data, along with the erasure of diversity programs, could disproportionately harm BIPOC communities by exacerbating environmental racism, reducing STEM opportunities, and limiting access to space-related advancements.
Benefit to Trump
Could suppress climate data to weaken environmental regulations and boost fossil fuel industries, while also using Musk’s influence at NASA to privatize space exploration and favor military-industrial interests.
Department of Transportation (DOT) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Ordered removal of transportation-related datasets, impacting public access.
General Potential Harm
Disruption of air traffic operations, unauthorized access to sensitive transportation data, potential safety risks.
Impact on Disabled People
Reduced transportation accessibility, impact on accessible infrastructure.
Benefit to Musk
Potential influence over transportation regulations and infrastructure contracts for his companies like Tesla and The Boring Company.
Data Contained
Air traffic control data, transportation infrastructure information, internal communications
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Reduction of government oversight in transportation safety, expansion of privatized infrastructure, neglect of public transit funding.
Impact on BIPOC People
Limited access to safe transportation for BIPOC communities, disproportionate safety risks.
Benefit to Trump
Control over major transportation initiatives, ability to favor states and companies supporting him politically.
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Mandated removal of DEI and LGBTQ+ resources from federal agency materials. Restricted career civil servants' access to OPM computer systems.
General Potential Harm
Purging federal employees based on ideology, targeting government whistleblowers.
Impact on Disabled People
Targeting of disabled federal employees, loss of accommodations.
Benefit to Musk
Control over hiring and firing policies in the federal workforce, ability to remove opposition.
Data Contained
Federal employee communications, human resources operations data, government personnel records
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Mass removal of employees seen as 'deep state' or not aligned with conservative ideology, undermining civil service protections.
Impact on BIPOC People
Disproportionate job losses for BIPOC federal employees, increased workplace discrimination.
Benefit to Trump
Ability to purge federal employees disloyal to his administration and reinforce loyalty within the government.
Department of Commerce (DOC) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Unclear.
General Potential Harm
Market manipulation, insider trading, corporate favoritism, suppression of economic competition, and misuse of demographic and trade data for political or economic control.
Impact on Disabled People
Justify cutting disability benefits, undermining accessibility requirements for businesses, and weakening disability-related economic protections, making it harder for disabled individuals to access jobs, services, and resources.
Benefit to Musk
Access to trade, regulatory, and economic data would allow for strategically positioning his companies (Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink) ahead of competitors, influence federal subsidies, shape trade policy to benefit his businesses, and potentially profit from insider knowledge of upcoming economic trends.
Data Contained
Trade regulations, economic data, business registries
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Manipulate economic policy, rig trade deals, selectively enforce business regulations to benefit politically aligned corporations while disadvantaging others; demographic and market data could be weaponized to justify racial and economic policy changes that favor conservative economic interests while suppressing opposition.
Impact on BIPOC People
Defund civil rights-focused economic initiatives, justify voter suppression policies, weaken federal contracts with minority-owned businesses, and redirect economic development funds away from communities of color, deepening racial wealth disparities.
Benefit to Trump
Could steer federal funding and contracts toward allies, use economic data to target political opponents or donor bases, manipulate trade policies to benefit Trump-affiliated businesses, and suppress economic policies that favor opposition groups or progressive economic reforms.
Department of the Interior (DOI)
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Public lands climate change adaptation reports removed, limiting access to environmental impact research.
General Potential Harm
Exploitation of natural resources, violation of privacy, and misuse of sensitive information for corporate or political gain.
Impact on Disabled People
Undermine efforts to ensure accessible public lands and resources for disabled individuals, potentially limiting their participation in protected spaces or services.
Benefit to Musk
Leverage data to gain access to valuable natural resource information, enhancing his companies' business interests in land usage, energy production, and infrastructure projects, increasing profits.
Data Contained
Public lands management, natural resources, wildlife data
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Prioritize corporate or profit-driven interests over environmental protection, undermining federal land conservation and resource management efforts.
Impact on BIPOC People
Exploitation of tribal lands, erosion of tribal sovereignty, and violations of protections vital to BIPOC communities, particularly in resource management and land rights.
Benefit to Trump
Facilitate resource extraction and development on public lands, securing financial gains for associated business interests, and bolstering political support from resource industries.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Public health datasets being used by DHS related to gender, diversity, and emergency management, as well as mobile device records from departing employees and various government health surveys and data dashboards.
General Potential Harm
Surveillance expansion, manipulation of sensitive data, and misuse for political or corporate gain, undermining national security and individual privacy.
Impact on Disabled People
Increased surveillance and tracking, potentially resulting in discriminatory policies and denial of access to services or accommodations.
Benefit to Musk
Influence government policy, secure government contracts, and boost his personal financial gain through insights into national security or infrastructure needs.
Data Contained
Border security, immigration data, counterterrorism intelligence
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Facilitate targeted ideological purges, tracking of political dissidents, racial profiling, and mass deportations.
Impact on BIPOC People
Disproportionately targeted through data and surveillance systems, leading to racial profiling, unjust policing, and suppression of civil rights activism.
Benefit to Trump
Leverage for political influence, targeted strategies for business ventures, and opportunities for financial gains by using sensitive data to gain advantage in contracts or investments.
Department of Labor (DOL) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
DEIA, LGBTQ+, and Long COVID resources. Removed Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data, reducing economic transparency. This includes the Employment Situation report detailing U.S. unemployment statistics.
General Potential Harm
Weakening worker protections, suppressing labor unions and employment rights.
Impact on Disabled People
Weakening ADA workplace protections, increased employment discrimination.
Benefit to Musk
Reduced labor protections, making it easier to suppress unionization at Tesla and SpaceX.
Data Contained
OSHA investigation details, labor regulations enforcement data, employment records
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Repeal of workplace safety regulations, limitation of union activities, increased corporate control over labor policies.
Impact on BIPOC People
Suppression of labor data affecting BIPOC workers, increased workplace exploitation.
Benefit to Trump
Weakening of labor laws to benefit corporations aligned with his administration.
U.S. Census Bureau
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
DEIA content. Removed 3,000+ Census Bureau research pages, limiting demographic and economic analysis. Committees terminated.
General Potential Harm
Misuse or suppression of Census Bureau data could lead to voter suppression, defunding of public services, increased surveillance, and manipulation of demographic statistics to justify harmful policies.
Impact on Disabled People
Census data manipulation could justify cuts to disability benefits, weaken ADA enforcement, reduce accessibility funding, and increase surveillance on disabled individuals receiving government aid.
Benefit to Musk
Access to detailed demographic data could enhance AI development, refine consumer profiling for his businesses, expand surveillance capabilities, and provide insights for privatizing public services, benefiting his tech and space ventures.
Data Contained
Population demographics, housing, economics, education, migration, and disability to inform government policy, business decisions, and research.
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Project 2025’s focus on centralizing executive power and dismantling DEI policies could use census data to eliminate civil rights protections, privatize public services, and suppress marginalized communities’ political influence.
Impact on BIPOC People
Suppressing or altering racial demographic data could facilitate gerrymandering, defund essential services in BIPOC communities, justify rollbacks of civil rights protections, and increase targeted policing and immigration enforcement.
Benefit to Trump
Control over Census data could enable voter suppression, gerrymandering, exclusion of undocumented immigrants from population counts, manipulation of federal funding allocations, and reinforcement of policies favoring conservative political dominance.
U.S. Treasury System
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Accessed Treasury payment databases, prompting federal employee union lawsuits. Temporary restraining order restricting access.
General Potential Harm
Defunding or redirection of Social Security/Medicare funds, targeting individuals based on financial status.
Impact on Disabled People
Loss of disability benefits, reduced healthcare access.
Benefit to Musk
Potential influence over financial regulations, access to economic data benefiting his businesses.
Data Contained
Government payment data, Social Security and Medicare payments, personal financial details
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Privatization of Medicare, reduction in disability benefits, increased financial barriers for vulnerable groups.
Impact on BIPOC People
Targeting low-income and BIPOC communities relying on financial assistance.
Benefit to Trump
Potential ability to manipulate economic indicators to boost his political standing.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Removed datasets on healthcare disparities, impacting marginalized communities.
General Potential Harm
Potential misinterpretation of data leading to unwarranted policy changes, undermining public trust in healthcare programs.
Impact on Disabled People
Restricted Medicaid/Medicare access for disabled individuals.
Benefit to Musk
Opportunity to shape healthcare policy in a way that benefits privatized healthcare investments.
Data Contained
Payment and contracting information, Medicare and Medicaid payment records, agency spending data
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Reduction in Medicaid coverage, rollback of ACA protections, prioritization of privatized healthcare over public funding.
Impact on BIPOC People
Healthcare access disparities for BIPOC individuals, increased barriers to medical care.
Benefit to Trump
Shaping of healthcare narratives to fit his political agenda, potential dismantling of ACA.
Department of Energy (DOE) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Removed 50+ research papers from the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, impacting energy research.
General Potential Harm
Compromise national security, enable corporate exploitation of energy resources, and allow political manipulation of critical energy policies.
Impact on Disabled People
Reduced investment in accessible, clean energy, increasing energy costs and environmental hazards that disproportionately harm disabled individuals.
Benefit to Musk
Direct government contracts toward SpaceX, Tesla, and other ventures, while deregulation could reduce costs for his energy-related businesses.
Data Contained
Energy production, nuclear security, power grid data
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Justify the dismantling of environmental protections, privatize public energy assets, and suppress climate science to push fossil fuel-friendly policies.
Impact on BIPOC People
Data on energy infrastructure, pollution, and environmental justice programs could be suppressed or altered to justify policy rollbacks, leading to higher pollution exposure and economic disenfranchisement in BIPOC communities.
Benefit to Trump
Shape policies that benefit Trump’s business allies, including fossil fuel companies, while also enabling political purges of DOE employees who oppose his administration’s agenda.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Removed data on minority-owned business support programs, reducing transparency in small business aid.
General Potential Harm
Favoritism toward Musk-owned businesses, denying government funding to politically unfavorable businesses.
Impact on Disabled People
Reduced small business opportunities for disabled entrepreneurs.
Benefit to Musk
Priority access to government contracts and funding for Musk-owned businesses.
Data Contained
Government payment records, personal information of business owners, federal contractor details
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Shift in funding to conservative-aligned businesses, exclusion of minority-owned businesses from federal contracts.
Impact on BIPOC People
Reduced support for BIPOC-owned businesses, increased economic disparities.
Benefit to Trump
Favoritism toward businesses aligned with Trump's political allies and donors.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Clinical trial diversity guidance, Health equity resources, restricted terminology banning words like 'woman,' 'disabled,' and 'elderly,' causing scientific communication issues.
General Potential Harm
Manipulation of drug approvals, suppression of safety concerns, and public health risks from unregulated medical technologies.
Impact on Disabled People
Data on clinical trials and medical devices could be misused to accelerate untested, experimental treatments without adequate safety oversight, leading to medical exploitation of disabled people.
Benefit to Musk
Could allow Musk to bypass regulatory scrutiny for Neuralink, Tesla’s health-tech projects, or SpaceX’s biotech experiments, while also gaining insider knowledge of medical markets for financial gain.
Data Contained
Drugs, devices, food safety, tobacco, cosmetics, radiation, inspections, enforcement, and public health.
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Use to fast-track unsafe products, eliminate consumer protections, and allow corporate influence over public health decisions.
Impact on BIPOC People
Data could be selectively manipulated to justify medical policies that neglect BIPOC communities, suppress evidence of racial disparities in drug safety, or limit access to life-saving treatments.
Benefit to Trump
Could enable Trump to weaken regulatory enforcement, favor corporate allies, and push policies that align with his administration’s political and financial interests.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Removal of 3,000+ pages, including: Social Vulnerability Index and Environmental Justice Index, AtlasPlus, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), Environmental Justice Index (EJI), Health Equity Guiding Principles for Inclusive Communication, LBTQ+ resources, HIV data and resources. Limiting public health data access.
General Potential Harm
Public health risks due to loss of data access, potential suppression of pandemic or disease-related information.
Impact on Disabled People
Suppression of disability-related public health data, impacting policy decisions.
Benefit to Musk
Potential control over public health messaging, benefiting private-sector medical initiatives Musk invests in.
Data Contained
Public health data, disease surveillance records, research and pandemic response data
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Reversal of pandemic response protocols, removal of federal funding for vaccine development, suppression of health equity initiatives.
Impact on BIPOC People
Loss of racial health disparity data, limiting public health responses for BIPOC communities.
Benefit to Trump
Control over public health narratives to align with his administration's stance on pandemic responses.
Department of State (DOS)
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
DEIA & LGBT+ content. Removed the PEPFAR Dashboard, hindering global AIDS program data access.
General Potential Harm
Compromise national security, disrupt foreign relations, enable corporate profiteering, and erase critical human rights and policy records.
Impact on Disabled People
Could lead to the removal of international disability rights protections, denial of travel and immigration accommodations, and the erasure of disability-related policy data.
Benefit to Musk
Benefits financially from government contracts, such as a $400 million armored Tesla deal, while DOGE leadership gives him influence over federal policy and deregulation that favors his businesses.
Data Contained
Diplomatic communications, visa and passport records, foreign aid data, international treaty agreements, security and counterterrorism intelligence, and reports on global human rights and policy issues.
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Data could be weaponized to dismantle international human rights protections, expand immigration restrictions, suppress political dissent, and withdraw from global alliances.
Impact on BIPOC People
Immigration data could be manipulated to discriminate against BIPOC individuals, racial justice data could be erased, and advocacy groups supporting Black and Indigenous communities could lose funding and legal protections.
Benefit to Trump
Benefits politically by aligning with Musk to promote a narrative of government efficiency, strengthening his appeal to pro-business voters while using deregulation to advance his economic agenda. Financially, investments and partnerships benefit from government contracts and deregulation.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
DEIA resources. Attempted access to IRS tax data under the guise of fraud investigations, raising privacy concerns.
General Potential Harm
Unauthorized access to IRS data could lead to financial privacy violations, selective tax enforcement, economic manipulation, and increased security risks.
Impact on Disabled People
IRS data could be used to cut disability benefits, increase audits on low-income disabled individuals, and restrict access to Medicaid and other social programs.
Benefit to Musk
Access to IRS data could help Musk avoid tax liabilities, identify financial loopholes, expand his businesses through privatization of government contracts, manipulate markets using insider financial knowledge, and suppress competitors through targeted tax scrutiny.
Data Contained
Highly sensitive financial and personal data, including income records, tax filings, Social Security numbers, banking details, business revenues, charitable donations, and enforcement actions, covering both individuals and corporations.
Project 2025 Potential Harm
IRS data could be weaponized to defund opposition groups, weaken tax enforcement for the wealthy, punish political opponents, and justify privatization of government functions.
Impact on BIPOC People
Black and Brown communities could face higher audit rates, economic disenfranchisement, targeted tax enforcement, and justification for defunding social programs that support them.
Benefit to Trump
Trump could use IRS data to shield his own tax records from scrutiny, weaken enforcement against his businesses, selectively target political and business rivals, profit from tax policy changes benefiting real estate, and suppress opposition groups by undermining their financial standing.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Removed LGBTQ+ and minority veterans' healthcare resources, limiting access to benefits.
General Potential Harm
Privacy violations of veterans, potential tampering with benefits, exposure of medical histories, increased surveillance of veterans.
Impact on Disabled People
Disabled veterans could face automated denials of benefits, loss of critical healthcare, and increased barriers to disability compensation through AI-driven decision-making and bureaucratic cuts.
Benefit to Musk
Gain opportunities to privatize federal services, win lucrative government contracts, and use VA data to expand AI and financial tech applications.
Data Contained
Veteran benefits, medical records, military service data
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Reduction in veterans' benefits, privatization of healthcare services, targeting of political dissenters.
Impact on BIPOC People
BIPOC veterans, already facing racial disparities in VA services, may experience increased benefit denials, disproportionate targeting, and exacerbation of existing systemic inequities in access to care and support.
Benefit to Trump
Advance political goals of budget cuts and privatization, financially benefiting from corporate partnerships, and using the data to consolidate political control.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Systems
Status:
Gained Access
Data Removed:
Yes
Removed Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data, reducing economic transparency. This includes the Employment Situation report detailing U.S. unemployment statistics.
General Potential Harm
Manipulation of economic data to justify policy changes, suppression of unfavorable economic reports.
Impact on Disabled People
Suppression of employment data affecting disabled workers.
Benefit to Musk
Ability to manipulate economic data to align with personal and business interests.
Data Contained
Economic data, employment statistics, other critical financial indicators
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Data distortions to push austerity policies, justification for cutting social safety nets, redirection of economic benefits to elite interests.
Impact on BIPOC People
Manipulation of economic data to justify policies harmful to BIPOC workers.
Benefit to Trump
Ability to skew economic data to justify tax cuts for wealthy donors and corporations.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Systems
Status:
Proposed Shut Down
Data Removed:
Yes
Removed or altered data, including flood insurance policy records, climate resilience references, and disaster aid information.
General Potential Harm
Privacy violations, manipulation of disaster relief efforts, and the privatization of emergency response, potentially leading to inequitable aid distribution and corporate profiteering.
Impact on Disabled People
Deprioritized or excluded from relief services, face increased institutionalization risks, and lose access to life-saving resources based on politically motivated decisions.
Benefit to Musk
Infrastructure and aid distribution data could allow Musk’s companies (e.g., Starlink, Tesla, The Boring Company) to secure lucrative disaster-response contracts, privatize emergency communication systems, and position Starlink as an exclusive provider for disaster zones, increasing corporate revenue.
Data Contained
Disaster response plans, emergency management, recovery funding
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Justify defunding disaster relief, redirecting aid to politically favored regions, and increasing reliance on private, for-profit disaster management.
Impact on BIPOC People
Deprioritized in disaster response, reinforcing racial disparities by withholding aid or directing resources toward wealthier, predominantly white areas, targeted neglect, and data-driven justification for further disenfranchisement.
Benefit to Trump
Access to FEMA data could enable Trump to politically weaponize disaster relief, steering resources toward key voter bases, punishing political opponents by withholding aid, and using disaster funding as leverage to influence elections and state-level governance.
Department of Education (ED) Systems
Status:
Proposed Shut Down
Data Removed:
Yes
DEIA & LGBTQ+ programs and content, What Works Clearinghouse, Institute for Education Sciences (IES), National Center for Education Statistics
General Potential Harm
Potential dismantling of federal education programs, mismanagement of student aid funds, erosion of public education infrastructure.
Impact on Disabled People
Reduction in special education funding, limited access to higher education.
Benefit to Musk
Potential influence over student loan policy that could impact recruitment into Musk's workforce.
Data Contained
Student loan information, educational program data, internal policy communications
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Defunding of public education, prioritization of private/religious school vouchers, rollback of affirmative action policies.
Impact on BIPOC People
Defunding of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), restricted student loan access.
Benefit to Trump
Defunding of DEI-focused education programs, limiting access to student aid for marginalized groups.
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Systems
Status:
Shut Down
Data Removed:
Yes
Shut down. Removed Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) program.
General Potential Harm
Disruption of foreign aid operations, loss of critical international development data.
Impact on Disabled People
Loss of disability-related international aid programs.
Benefit to Musk
Ability to direct U.S. foreign aid in ways that align with his economic or political interests.
Data Contained
Foreign aid program data, project funding details, communications and reports
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Reduction of foreign aid to countries not aligned with conservative interests, redirection of funding to military-based interventions.
Impact on BIPOC People
Reduced global humanitarian aid disproportionately affecting BIPOC populations worldwide.
Benefit to Trump
Redirecting foreign aid toward countries and initiatives supporting his foreign policy objectives.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Systems
Status:
Shut Down
Data Removed:
Yes
Shut down. Removed 386+ videos and major content from CFPB platforms, limiting financial consumer protection resources.
General Potential Harm
Unauthorized access to sensitive consumer financial information, potential misuse of data to favor certain financial institutions.
Impact on Disabled People
Increased exposure to financial scams, loss of protections against discriminatory lending.
Benefit to Musk
Ability to influence financial regulations to benefit his enterprises. Access to consumer data for business insights.
Data Contained
Consumer financial data, regulatory enforcement records, financial institution reports
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Dismantling of consumer financial protections, elimination of regulatory oversight on predatory lending practices.
Impact on BIPOC People
Heightened risk of predatory lending in BIPOC communities, erosion of financial safeguards.
Benefit to Trump
Reduction of regulatory constraints on financial institutions. Ability to favor politically aligned businesses.
Social Security Administration (SSA)
Status:
Suspected Shut Down
Data Removed:
Yes
LGBTQ+ content. Sought unauthorized access to SSA recipient data, prompting commissioner resignation. Ended the Retirement and Disability Research Consortium (RDRC).
General Potential Harm
Enable identity theft, financial fraud, mass surveillance, and unjustified benefit terminations for vulnerable individuals.
Impact on Disabled People
AI-driven fraud detection could lead to mass disability benefit revocations, forcing disabled individuals into financial precarity or unsafe work environments.
Benefit to Musk
Use data in AI-driven hiring and automation strategies at Musk-owned companies, influence government contracts, and facilitate the privatization of federal benefit programs.
Data Contained
Social Security benefits, disability claims, retirement records
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Target beneficiaries for cuts, enforce stricter work requirements, suppress voter participation, and push privatization of Social Security benefits.
Impact on BIPOC People
Justify racial disparities in benefit approvals, increase fraud investigations targeting communities of color, and facilitate immigration enforcement through data-sharing.
Benefit to Trump
Use for targeted voter suppression (e.g., purging voter rolls based on benefit status), shaping political narratives around "fraud" in social programs, and restructuring Social Security benefits in ways that financially benefit Trump-aligned private interests.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Status:
Suspected Shut Down
Data Removed:
Yes
Guidance on LGBTQ+ protections and AI bias, ceased processing gender identity discrimination claims, and taken down related resources.
General Potential Harm
Suppression of workplace discrimination complaints, retaliation against employees who file claims, and the elimination of critical civil rights enforcement mechanisms.
Impact on Disabled People
Weaken ADA enforcement, allow employers to deny accommodations without consequence, and obscure AI-driven hiring discrimination against disabled workers.
Benefit to Musk
Could suppress or preempt discrimination claims against Tesla and SpaceX, avoid costly legal battles, and weaken labor protections that could interfere with his control over workplace policies.
Data Contained
Workplace discrimination charges, employer workforce demographics (EEO-1 reports), litigation and enforcement actions, federal sector complaints, and pay equity trends to monitor and enforce anti-discrimination laws.
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Justify ending anti-discrimination policies, purging civil servants advocating for equity, and shielding employers from accountability.
Impact on BIPOC People
Erasing race-based employment discrimination data could justify dismantling DEIA initiatives, embolden employers to engage in unchecked racial bias, and facilitate the removal of BIPOC employees from federal jobs.
Benefit to Trump
Could reshape federal civil rights enforcement, enabling the rollback of DEIA initiatives and the suppression of discrimination claims that conflict with his political agenda.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Systems
Status:
Suspected Shut Down
Data Removed:
Yes
Deleted climate datasets, hindering environmental research.
General Potential Harm
Potential manipulation or suppression of climate data, disruption of weather forecasting services, undermining environmental research.
Impact on Disabled People
Increased exposure to climate disasters affecting disabled populations.
Benefit to Musk
Potential control over climate data, allowing him to downplay environmental regulations affecting his businesses.
Data Contained
Climate data, weather forecasting models, environmental monitoring information
Project 2025 Potential Harm
Repeal of climate regulations, defunding of climate change research, prioritization of fossil fuel industry interests.
Impact on BIPOC People
Increased climate change-related harm disproportionately affecting BIPOC communities.
Benefit to Trump
Control over climate change data, allowing him to justify deregulation and fossil fuel industry expansion.