Although DOGE cannot compromise the Nuclear Weapon arsenal, Musk’s Department of Energy access still poses a risk. What was once unthinkable is now a reality. The wealthiest individual in history, Elon Musk, has become an attack dog for President Donald Trump. Through his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has gained unprecedented access to government systems and data. Nuclear Weapon: This access extends to the Department of Energy (DOE), which oversees America’s nuclear arsenal.
The Risks of Elon Musk Department of Energy Access
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that DOGE had access to DOE systems, sparking widespread concern. In response, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright publicly denied that Musk or DOGE had any access to nuclear secrets. However, the fact that such a declaration was necessary highlights the severity of the situation. Given previous instances of the Trump administration misleading the public about DOGE’s reach, skepticism remains. The idea that a pseudo-department named after a Shiba Inu could have any level of access to nuclear weapon is bizarre—but not entirely out of the realm of possibility.
Unprecedented Access to Government Systems
While Musk’s influence over government operations continues to expand, storming into the right office isn’t enough to gain nuclear control. That said, it’s crucial to examine how someone like Musk could come dangerously close to influencing the world’s most destructive force—and what other risks his access might present in a time of shifting governmental norms.
The Reality of U.S. Nuclear Security
The United States possesses one of the world’s most powerful nuclear arsenals, with enough firepower to wipe out all life on Earth multiple times over. The launch authority remains solely with the President, but DOGE is inching closer to the systems that manage this power.
During a press conference on Friday, Trump stated that he had instructed Musk and DOGE to examine Pentagon budget issues. He also suggested that access to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) could be a possibility.
However, nuclear command and control is not something that can be accessed through a random DOE-connected laptop. A State Department official, speaking anonymously to The Verge, dismissed the idea outright.
“I don’t see what [Musk] could do,” the official stated. “In my opinion, it’s zero. I don’t understand how that could occur.”
Yet history has shown that making something “idiot-proof” often results in the world producing better idiots. To launch a nuclear bomb, multiple steps are required: missileers must turn keys, submarine crews must prepare and fire, and bomber crews must operate their aircraft. None of these can be accomplished remotely by Musk, his DOGE team, or any unauthorized personnel.
Elon Musk: Outdated but Secure Nuclear Weapon Systems
The United States’ nuclear command and control network is separate from the internet, restricted solely to nuclear forces. It is also notoriously outdated. Some equipment in use dates back to the 1960s and 1970s, and modernization efforts are slow. In fact, the Air Force was still using eight-inch floppy disks in its nuclear systems until 2019.
Many experts believe this outdated technology serves as a security advantage. Nuclear historian Alex Wellerstein, an associate professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology, told The Verge that he does not believe current nuclear command and control systems are “hackable.”
“To be honest, they are not up to date enough for that,” Wellerstein said.
Still, he noted that Elon Musk could pursue another route to nuclear weapons: influencing Trump directly.
Elon Musk Most Dangerous Weapon: Trump
If Musk truly wanted to carry out a hostile takeover of the nuclear arsenal, Wellerstein suggests, the best method wouldn’t involve hacking—it would involve manipulating Trump into believing a nuclear strike was necessary.
Trump carries with him a briefcase known as “the Football,” a leather-coated aluminum attaché bag that contains communication equipment linking him to the Pentagon’s National Military Command Center. To authorize a nuclear strike, Trump would need the “Biscuit,” a laminated sheet of paper containing a secret alphanumeric code that verifies his identity.
“There are no launch codes for the President,” a State Department official explained. “The President’s voice is authenticated by a code.”
For Musk to exploit this system, he would need to steal the Biscuit, gain access to the Football, and impersonate Trump—or simply persuade Trump to issue the order himself. While this scenario seems unlikely, the mere fact that it is theoretically possible raises serious concerns.
Additionally, Trump has the authority to change nuclear launch procedures at any time. While previous administrations have followed strict protocols, there is nothing stopping Trump from rewriting the rules to grant Musk—or anyone else—greater access.
The Erosion of Safeguards
There are strict regulations governing who can access nuclear systems, requiring specific security clearances and reliability standards. However, these are executive regulations, meaning the President has the power to reassign nuclear authority. Past presidents have done so in limited circumstances, such as President Eisenhower’s decision to grant Pacific commanders pre-authorization to use nuclear weapons under extreme conditions.
Disturbingly, reports indicate that DOGE staff—who lack the necessary security clearances—already have access to highly sensitive government systems. If Musk’s team can bypass existing protocols, previously unthinkable possibilities may become reality.
One of the most overlooked risks is Musk’s ideological stance on environmental cleanup. The DOE is responsible for managing America’s nuclear waste, much of which remains from the Manhattan Project and the Cold War. Under Biden, the department allocated $8.2 billion for cleanup efforts, but concerns have arisen that Musk and DOGE view environmental safety as “woke” and unnecessary.
“Cleaning up the environment takes up a significant amount of the NNSA’s budget,” a DOE employee noted. “I could see them viewing this as misguided environmentalism and just shutting it down.”
A $2 Trillion Nuclear Modernization Gamble
The United States is currently undergoing a massive nuclear modernization effort, set to last 25 years and cost $2 trillion. This initiative includes building new nuclear submarines, refurbishing warheads, upgrading outdated computer systems, and constructing new missile silos. It is a massive undertaking—one ripe for fraud, waste, and corruption. Under any administration, such a project requires rigorous oversight. Right now, Musk and DOGE are conducting that oversight.
DOGE and Musk have consistently shown disregard for established security protocols, following a “move fast and break things” philosophy. Existing laws and regulations are designed to keep people like Musk far from sensitive national security information—but only if they are enforced.
Nuclear Weapon: The Final Line of Defense
Despite all these risks, the worst-case scenario—Musk or Trump singlehandedly launching nuclear weapons—is still highly unlikely. A nuclear strike requires the cooperation of multiple military officials, missileers, submarine crews, and air force pilots.
“The military following orders is essential to all of these scenarios,” Wellerstein stated. “I would rather think that they wouldn’t do that. However, that would also be a challenging and unique event in and of itself.”
Rather than directly launching missiles, Musk and Trump pose a more subtle but equally dangerous nuclear threat: eroding safeguards, weakening oversight, and appointing unqualified individuals to sensitive positions.
Among DOGE staff, employees like Edward Coristine have ties to cybercriminals and Russian operations. In a normal administration, such individuals would never receive security clearances—yet under DOGE, they now have access to sensitive government data. Every DOGE employee represents a potential security failure.
Additionally, foreign adversaries like China and Russia would have strong incentives to target DOGE personnel for espionage, using blackmail and other means to exploit their access.
The Dangerous Precedent Being Set
For nuclear security to remain intact, those in power must take regulations seriously. However, laws are only effective when they are enforced.
“At the moment, we are in no-man’s land,” Wellerstein warned.
If DOGE is allowed to continue operating unchecked, the future of nuclear security—and the balance of global power—could be at stake.
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