OPM Inspector General Assessing Risks to Federal IT Systems after Brown and Oversight Democrats Raise Cybersecurity and Privacy Concerns about DOGE

Washington, DC – The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Deputy Inspector General Vint has informed the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that the OPM Office of the Inspector General (OIG) will be incorporating into existing work topics of investigation outlined in a February 6^th letter from Committee Democrats co-led by Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology. 

That letter raised concerns about DOGE exposing agency systems to potential cybersecurity threats and privacy violations.  The OIG stated it is initiating “a new engagement on specific emerging risks at OPM that are related to issues raised in [the] letter” and is assessing “risks associated with new and modified information systems at OPM.” 

“We need government watchdogs and we need oversight. Democrats on the Oversight Committee will continue to fight for transparency, accountability, and upholding the law. This is a positive step, and I’ll be tracking the investigation closely to ensure the work of the Deputy Inspector General and the OPM Office of Inspector General proceeds unimpeded,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology. 

On February 6, 2025, Subcommittee Ranking Member Brown, along with Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari led all Committee Democrats in sending a letter to Offices of Inspectors General at the Department of the Treasury, the General Services Administration (GSA), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) expressing urgent concerns that unauthorized individuals associated with Elon Musk or the “DOGE” effort gained access to protected government networks and sensitive data.  

Oversight Democrats strongly encouraged the Inspectors General to quickly address any potential threats to national security and safeguard sensitive government information against potential unauthorized access and misuse by private citizens lacking requisite clearance or any legitimate reason to access this information.

Click here to read Oversight Democrats’ full letter to the six Inspectors General.

Click here to read OPM Deputy Inspector General Vint’s response to Oversight Democrats.

###