GAO's DOGE Report: Did DOGE Have Access to Your Federal Personnel File?
Did DOGE have access to your federal personnel file? A new GAO report on DOGE, released September 29, 2026, suggests the honest answer is that we may never fully know, and that for at least some employees, there is reason to believe it did.
The report is GAO-26-108192. Over 18 months, the Government Accountability Office tried to find out what DOGE teams could access at six agencies: the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Education, the Small Business Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission, NOAA, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. None of the six gave GAO everything it needed.
What GAO Found at CFPB
At CFPB, only four of six DOGE members had documented security training. The bureau pointed to "the extremely short duration of these detail assignments." Yet one of those detailees had access that allowed them to modify and delete data in the bureau's main HR system, and was later converted to a direct hire.
CFPB told GAO that all DOGE access was captured in system logs. When GAO asked to see the logs, CFPB said that would be too burdensome. When GAO asked for copies instead, CFPB declined.
Education Declined, Citing Privacy
The Department of Education also refused to provide requested information. It cited concerns about sending GAO the DOGE team members' personal information without a guarantee of confidentiality.
Footnote 27 and the VA eOPF
One of the most significant details is in footnote 27. According to the report, another agency showed GAO evidence that one of its DOGE members had access to the Veterans Health Administration's eOPF, the electronic Official Personnel Folder where employees' SF-50s and other personnel records are kept. GAO could not verify it, because VA did not answer GAO's questions and did not say why.
The Rules Federal Employees Follow
Federal employees complete cybersecurity training, sign rules of behavior, and often wait months for background investigations before they can touch sensitive systems. At SEC, one DOGE member's background check was still underway. Based on the report, GAO cannot confirm that DOGE followed the same rules everyone else must follow.
CFPB and SEC told GAO there were no DOGE-related incidents, but GAO could not verify those statements. SEC and NOAA also argued that GAO had no authority to conduct the review.
DOGE Is Not Necessarily Over
DOGE's temporary organization ended on July 4, 2026. According to GAO, however, DOGE teams inside agencies could keep working.
What You Can Do
- Read the report yourself. Search for GAO-26-108192 on GAO's website, including footnote 27.
- Know your records rights. Under the Privacy Act, you generally have the right to request access to records an agency keeps about you in its systems of records.
- Stay alert. Keep an eye on your personal accounts and credit, and report anything unusual.
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Legal Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Federal employment situations are fact-specific and time-sensitive. Please consult a qualified federal employment attorney about your specific situation. You can contact Southworth PC at attorneysforfederalemployees.com.