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Prosecutor says law enforcement 'moving rapidly' on probe

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Musk solicited for information on 'questionable conduct'

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Musk staff reportedly blocked from accessing sensitive

information probes

By Andrew Goudsward

WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - A federal prosecutor

appointed by President Donald Trump said on Monday the FBI was

investigating the "targeting" of staff involved in Elon Musk's

effort to slash the size of the U.S. government.

Career government officials have reportedly sought to

counter efforts by Musk aides working with his Department of

Government Efficiency to gain access to troves of classified

information without proper authorization.

DOGE was announced as an ambitious effort to cut the federal

workforce and slash billions in government spending, but critics

say it is being used to target agencies and government programs

viewed as out of step with Trump's conservative and more

isolationist "America First" agenda.

The statement by Edward Martin, the acting U.S. attorney in

Washington, was the first evidence that resistance to Musk's

effort could carry legal consequences, potentially chilling

opposition by public workers concerned about what they see as

overreach by DOGE.

"Our initial review of the evidence presented to us

indicates that certain individuals and/or groups have committed

acts that appear to violate the law in targeting DOGE

employees," Martin said in a statement.

Martin said the FBI and other law enforcement agencies were

preparing to "proceed rapidly."

The statement came after Martin publicly shared a letter he

wrote to Musk on Monday seeking information on anyone who sought

to threaten or impede people working with Musk.

Musk posted a thank you in response to Martin's message.

It is unclear whom prosecutors believe may have violated the

law or what charges they could face. It is unusual for a

prosecutor to discuss an active investigation before bringing

charges in court.

The Trump administration removed two top security officials at

the U.S. Agency for International Development, a top Musk

target, after they tried to stop DOGE representatives from

gaining access to secure parts of the building. The security

personnel were confronted by members of the U.S. Marshals

Service, Reuters reported.

The New York Times reported that a career Treasury Department

official unsuccessfully resisted efforts by the DOGE team to

gain access to the agency's payment system.

Musk, the world's richest person and the chief executive of

Tesla and SpaceX as well as owner of X, is leading an

effort to dramatically cut the U.S. government. He has already

offered sweeping buyouts to the federal workforce.

Martin, as interim U.S. attorney, oversaw the dismissal of

all pending criminal cases tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on

the U.S. Capitol following a directive from Trump.

He has made several public statements supporting Trump and

denigrating his political opponents, breaking with tradition for

U.S. attorneys, who typically avoid any statement that could be

perceived as political.