Wired: Top Officials Placed on Leave After Denying DOGE Access to Federal Payroll Systems

Mar 31, 2025

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Source URL: https://www.wired.com/story/doge-access-federal-payroll-systems-officials-leave-interior/
Source: Wired
Title: Top Officials Placed on Leave After Denying DOGE Access to Federal Payroll Systems

Feedly Summary: DOGE demanded full access to a US Department of the Interior system that handles even the Supreme Court’s paychecks. When top staff asked questions, they were put on leave.

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: The situation involving top officials at the Department of the Interior (DOI) relates to security concerns regarding access levels sought by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to critical payroll and personnel systems. The request to grant extensive access prompts significant security risks, raising alarms about potential unauthorized modifications and data breaches.

Detailed Description: The article discusses a pressing security incident within the Department of the Interior (DOI) concerning administrative access to sensitive systems:

– **Administrative Leave**: Key officials, including the chief information security officer, were placed on administrative leave after refusing to grant extensive access to DOGE affiliates.
– **Access Request Details**: DOGE operatives sought “full” or “system” access to DOI’s payroll and human resources systems, including the Federal Personnel and Payroll System (FPPS). This system is integral to managing payroll for over 275,000 federal workers across various agencies.
– **Risks of Granting Access**: The request for a high level of permissions raises several concerns:
– **Security Vulnerability**: Granting these permissions could allow individuals to create, pause, or delete email accounts, posing a risk if credentials were compromised.
– **Potential for Abuse**: Such levels of access equate to “God-mode,” enabling significant changes to system architecture and user data.
– **Historical Precedent**: There are fears of a repeat incident like the OPM breach, which severely compromised government personnel records due to poor access controls.

This incident underscores the critical need for robust access controls and security policies within governmental IT infrastructures to prevent unauthorized access and potential breaches, particularly in sensitive systems handling personal information of federal employees. Security professionals should take heed of the implications regarding permissions management and the risks associated with excessive access levels.

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