An Unofficial Government Presence
In a surprising move, two individuals affiliated with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) within the Small Business Administration (SBA) established an unauthorized X account, @DOGE_SBA, in February. This was done without the knowledge of the SBA’s official communications staff, who are typically responsible for managing the agency’s public-facing social media. The existence of this shadow account came to light through documents obtained via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The discovery highlights a pattern of DOGE operating as an independent, unaccountable entity within government agencies.
Soliciting Tips and Whistleblower Information
The @DOGE_SBA account’s primary purpose was to solicit tips from the public. It pinned a post echoing DOGE’s main X account, asking for insights on “waste, fraud, and abuse” and inviting people to send direct messages (DMs). This practice is highly unusual for a government agency. A former US government public affairs official, speaking anonymously, stated that such an operation would be “highly unusual” and a clear overstep of authority. In one documented instance, the account even instructed a user to “report it here” after they had reached out about a former employer’s alleged misuse of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.
The Problem of Accountability
This unofficial channel for collecting complaints raises serious questions about accountability. Unlike the established process through the SBA’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG), there is no clear oversight or long-term plan for the information gathered by the @DOGE_SBA account. An anonymous government auditor compared the situation to a “crazy uncle” who “decides to be the cops,” noting the lack of a “long-term vested interest” in the success of the agency. This decentralized and unmonitored approach could lead to tips and complaints falling through the cracks, with no guarantee of follow-up or proper investigation.
A Freestanding and Unchecked Entity
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), the nonprofit that filed the FOIA request, views this behavior as evidence that DOGE is a “freestanding entity within the government.” According to a representative from CREW, DOGE is “completely unchecked” and not subject to the oversight of the agencies it is meant to assist. The group has filed similar FOIA requests for other DOGE-affiliated accounts across various government departments, but only the SBA has provided documents so far. This lack of transparency and apparent independence from established government processes is a major point of concern.
Federal Records and Public Transparency
The communications made through these DOGE-affiliated X accounts are considered federal records and are therefore subject to preservation under the Federal Records Act and public access via FOIA. This legal requirement underscores the importance of proper management and oversight of such accounts. The fact that the SBA’s official communications team was unaware of this account and that it was being used to collect sensitive information without following standard protocols is a significant breach of procedure.
Social Media in Government
The incident reflects the ongoing challenge of managing social media in the public sector. While government agencies have embraced platforms like X for communication, the control and management of these channels remain a “highly contested territory,” as noted by the former public affairs official. The unauthorized creation of an account by DOGE affiliates is seen as an example of how the group has taken actions “they had no right to do.” It highlights the need for clear, consistent policies and central oversight to ensure that all public-facing communication from government bodies is transparent and accountable.
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