DOGE Team Compared To Who?
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) recently made an eye-opening comparison during an interview on CNN, likening staffers at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to young soldiers who fought in World War II. His remarks came amid growing concerns about DOGE’s reported attempt to infiltrate IRS systems and its significant access to sensitive data.
In the interview, CNN’s Pamela Brown pressed Burchett about the department’s actions, suggesting that members of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee should be asking questions about the situation. Brown pushed further, questioning whether Burchett would be reacting differently if the actions were occurring under a Democratic administration.
Burchett’s response was both impassioned and pointed. “If you want to talk about young people, my father was 20, 21 years old when he was in the Pacific, fighting and killing the people who carried those Japanese rifles,” Burchett said, drawing a direct connection between his father’s service in World War II and the young staffers now involved in government operations. “You all don’t question that the ones who fight our wars are those young people. We should be asking questions about these staffers, who are mostly in their early twenties and have access to important government systems.”
It’s important to note that some of these DOGE staff members are as young as 18, having recently left high school or college. Their age and lack of experience in handling sensitive data raises valid concerns about oversight and accountability.
Further complicating the situation, the White House recently clarified that tech mogul Elon Musk, despite playing a key role in DOGE’s cost-cutting measures, is technically not involved with the department. According to Joshua Fisher, director of the White House Office of Administration, Musk is instead an employee of the “White House Office” and serves as a senior advisor to the president.
The underlying issue is about the balance of power and accountability in government, particularly as we see young, inexperienced staffers gaining unprecedented access to critical systems. It’s time for stronger oversight to ensure that this power is being used responsibly.
