Politics
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Takeover
DOGE Is Putting Major Government Efficiency Projects at Risk
In its apparent quest to cut government spending and improve efficiency, DOGE has fired entire tech teams devoted to those very things.
Makena Kelly
Fourth Amendment
Trump’s Spy Chief Urged to Declassify Details of Secret Surveillance Program
Dell Cameron
Derp State
A Sensitive Complex Housing a CIA Facility Was on GSA's List of US Properties for Sale
Dhruv Mehrotra, Tim Marchman, Leah Feiger, and Andrew Couts
Pentagon Cuts Threaten Programs That Secure Loose Nukes and Weapons of Mass Destruction
Documents obtained by WIRED show the US Department of Defense is considering cutting up to 75 percent of workers who stop the spread of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.
Justin Ling
The US Army Is Using ‘CamoGPT’ to Purge DEI From Training Materials
Developed to boost productivity and operational readiness, the AI is now being used to “review” diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility policies to align them with President Trump’s orders.
Jared Keller
The 50-Year-Old Law That Could Stop DOGE in Its Tracks—Maybe
At least eight ongoing lawsuits related to the so-called Department of Government Efficiency’s alleged access to sensitive data hinge on the Watergate-inspired Privacy Act of 1974. But it’s not airtight.
Eric Geller
National Science Foundation Fires 168 Workers as Federal Purge Continues
Firings at the NSF included permanent employees who had already completed their one-year probationary period, as well as at-will workers.
Kim Zetter
No, 150-Year-Olds Aren’t Collecting Social Security Benefits
Elon Musk claims to have found rampant fraud in the Social Security Administration. There’s a much simpler explanation.
David Gilbert
How the US TikTok Ban Would Actually Work
The fate of TikTok now rests in the hands of the US Supreme Court. If a law banning the social video app this month is upheld, it won’t disappear from your phone—but it will get messy fast.
Matt Burgess
Meta Follows Elon Musk’s Lead, Moves Staffers to Billionaire-Friendly Texas
According to Mark Zuckerberg, Meta trust and safety workers will be relocated to Texas to prevent them from “censoring” users. Experts point to other advantages.
Vittoria Elliott
Meet the Conspiracy Filmmaker Who Claims to Have Red-Pilled Tulsi Gabbard
Mikki Willis, the maker of viral conspiracy film Plandemic, is seeking to leverage his relationship with Tulsi Gabbard to gain access to the new Donald Trump administration.
David Gilbert
Top US Election Security Watchdog Forced to Stop Election Security Work
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has frozen efforts to aid states in securing elections, according to an internal memo viewed by WIRED.
Eric Geller
Secret Phone Surveillance Tech Was Likely Deployed at 2024 DNC
Data WIRED collected during the 2024 Democratic National Convention strongly suggests the use of a cell-site simulator, a controversial spy device that intercepts sensitive data from every phone in its range.
Dhruv Mehrotra
The Top Cybersecurity Agency in the US Is Bracing for Donald Trump
Staffers at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency tell WIRED they fear the new administration will cut programs that keep the US safe—and “persecution.”
Eric Geller
As Trump Takes a Victory Lap, the Crypto Faithful Kiss the Ring
The crypto industry is celebrating the return of Donald Trump to the White House in anticipation of an easier ride under his regime.
Joel Khalili
DOGE’s $1 Federal Spending Limit Is Straight Out of the Twitter Playbook
On this special episode of Uncanny Valley, we talk about Elon Musk’s move to put spending limits on US government employee credit cards, plus how DOGE is embracing AI.
Katie Drummond and Zoë Schiffer
DOGE’s Foreign Aid Cuts Have Sparked ‘Total Chaos’ Around the World
Human rights organizations say the cuts have undermined years of global democracy-building and free-speech initiatives and put the lives of their staff at risk.
Vittoria Elliott
Behind DOGE’s Many Conflicts of Interest and Elon Musk’s Weekend Email Chaos
On this special episode of Uncanny Valley, we dig into the many DOGE staffers keeping two jobs at once, plus what happened when US federal workers received an email from Elon Musk over the weekend.
Katie Drummond and Brian Barrett
DOGE Is Working on Software That Automates the Firing of Government Workers
Operatives working for Elon Musk’s DOGE appear to be editing the code of AutoRIF—software designed by the Defense Department that could assist in mass firings of federal workers, sources tell WIRED.
Makena Kelly
Latest
Takeover
Here's a Map of the For-Sale Government Properties the GSA Pulled From Its Website
Dhruv Mehrotra, Leah Feiger, and Tim Marchman
Hazy Priorities
US State Department Kills Global Air Monitoring Program Researchers Say Paid for Itself
Zeyi Yang
Pay to Play
People Are Paying Millions to Dine With Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago
Leah Feiger, Louise Matsakis, and Jake Lahut
Takeover
DOGE Staffers at HUD Are From an AI Real Estate Firm and a Mobile Home Operator
Vittoria Elliott and David Gilbert
Down Under
What Elon Musk Got Wrong About Why Federal Retirement Is Still Managed out of a Limestone Mine
Caroline Haskins
Big Brother
DOGE Sparks Surveillance Fear Across the US Government
Paresh Dave, Dell Cameron, and Alexa O'Brien
Uncanny Valley
The Watergate-Inspired Law That’s Being Used to Fight DOGE
Katie Drummond and Andrew Couts
Takeover
These Are the SpaceX Engineers Already Working Inside the FAA
Vittoria Elliott and Aarian Marshall
Climate Policy
For-Profit Companies Can’t Easily Replace NOAA’s Weather-Forecasting Prowess
Christine Wiedinmyer and Kari Bowen
Moonlighting
Elon Musk’s Man in the Treasury Is Still Holding Down His Day Job as Software CEO
Vittoria Elliott
Takeover
Former Palantir and Elon Musk Associates Are Taking Over Key Government IT Roles
Makena Kelly
deep cut
NIH Funding Cuts Appear to Draw on Heritage Foundation Report That Blasts ‘DEI Staff’
Matt Reynolds and Emily Mullin
Horror Stories
US Funding Cuts Are Helping Criminals Get Away With Child Abuse and Human Trafficking
Matt Burgess
Takeover
The Recruitment Effort That Helped Build Elon Musk’s DOGE Army
Vittoria Elliott and Tim Marchman
Inside the House
A US Treasury Threat Intelligence Analysis Designates DOGE Staff as ‘Insider Threat’
Vittoria Elliott and Leah Feiger
Takeover
The US Treasury Claimed DOGE Technologist Didn’t Have ‘Write Access’ When He Actually Did
Vittoria Elliott, Leah Feiger, and Tim Marchman
Work History
DOGE Teen Owns ‘Tesla.Sexy LLC’ and Worked at Startup That Has Hired Convicted Hackers
Andy Greenberg, David Gilbert, and Lily Hay Newman
Takeover
This DOGE Engineer Has Access to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Tim Marchman and Matt Giles
Rug Pull
The Collapse of USAID Is Already Fueling Human Trafficking and Slavery at Scammer Compounds
Matt Burgess and Lily Hay Newman
Unplanned Travel
State Department Puts ‘All Direct Hire’ USAID Personnel on Administrative Leave
Kate Knibbs
Takeover
A 25-Year-Old With Elon Musk Ties Has Direct Access to the Federal Payment System
Vittoria Elliott, Dhruv Mehrotra, Leah Feiger, and Tim Marchman
Locked Out
Elon Musk’s DOGE Is Still Blocking HIV/AIDS Relief Exempted From Foreign Aid Cuts
Kate Knibbs
Take Over
DOGE Staff Had Questions About the ‘Resign’ Email. Their New HR Chief Dodged Them
Makena Kelly
404 Not Found
US Government Websites Are Disappearing in Real Time
Vittoria Elliott, Dhruv Mehrotra, and Dell Cameron
Take Over
Elon Musk’s Friends Have Infiltrated Another Government Agency
Makena Kelly and Zoë Schiffer
Conspiracy Theories
Kash Patel Says He Never Promoted QAnon. Here Are All The Times He Did
David Gilbert
Take Over
Government Tech Workers Forced to Defend Projects to Random Elon Musk Bros
Makena Kelly and Vittoria Elliott
Conspiracy Theories
Bleach Enthusiast, Antisemitic Conspiracist Among Stars of Anti-Vaxxer Event to Be Held at Trump Hotel
David Gilbert
Cult of Personality
Elon Musk Lackeys Have Taken Over the Office of Personnel Management
Vittoria Elliott
border
Mexico Rushes to Help Stranded Migrants After Trump Shuts Down the CBP One App
Fernanda González
Take This Off
Gold Sneakers and Too-Tight Suits: The Menswear Guy Weighs In on Inauguration Weekend
Vittoria Elliott
The First to Go
Neo-Nazis Love the Nazi-Like Salutes Elon Musk Made at Trump’s Inauguration
David Gilbert
Inauguration Weekend
MAGA Influencers Take Their Victory Lap, With Big Tech Picking Up the Tab
Makena Kelly
Being Diplomatic
Biden's Cyber Ambassador Urges Trump Not to Cede Ground to Russia and China in Global Tech Fight
Eric Geller