Top Democrats on the House Judiciary and House Oversight committees have filed a lengthy Freedom of Information Act request questioning whether the Trump administration’s DOGE Service is operating “outside the bounds of federal law,” The Associated Press has learned.

U.S. Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Gerald Connolly of Virginia are seeking detailed information about the authority of the Department of Government Efficiency Service, including billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk and some 40 other people, to carry out firings of federal workers and dismantling of federal agencies.

They also are requesting detailed information about DOGE’s access to sensitive data, its use of artificial intelligence, the resumes and training of its staff and its communications related to Musk-held entities including SpaceX, Starlink and Tesla.

“The Administration and Mr. Musk have hidden behind a veil of secrecy as they systematically dismantle the federal government of the United States,” the Democrats wrote in a letter to DOGE Administrator Amy Gleason accompanying the FOIA request, which was obtained by the AP. “The American people deserve answers, and we are committed to using every tool at our disposal to expose the truth about DOGE’s operations.”

They are seeking expedited review of the request, with a response within 20 days.

The FOIA request is the latest in an escalating confrontation between Congress and the executive branch as President Donald Trump is rapidly slashing routine aspects of the federal government by doing away with thousands of workers and unwinding various longstanding agencies and services.

While generally anyone can file a FOIA request, the Democrats on the panels are utilizing the avenues at their disposal as the minority party to press for oversight of the Republican administration any way they can. It’s also a potential step toward more binding measures, including legal action.

In the FOIA request, Raskin and Connolly, who are the ranking Democrats on the committees, wrote that the information is necessary “to provide answers to the many open questions and an explanation to the public.”

They said, “There exist possible questions concerning the government’s integrity regarding DOGE’s operations, formation, and activity, which form the basis of this request, as many of DOGE’s actions may be outside the bounds of federal law.”

It’s unclear if the Trump administration will respond.

Trump and Musk have shown little regard for the protests coming from Democrats — and some Republicans — in Congress as their teams march across the federal government. Musk has vowed transparency, but the Democrats noted he has met privately with House and Senate Republicans.

The Trump administration is purging employees, shuttering federal agencies and otherwise disrupting operations in the name of rooting out waste, fraud and abuse. Some 100 lawsuits have been filed, with judges slowing and stopping some actions, while allowing others.

In the sweeping request, the Democrats seek four main types of information about the authority involved with DOGE’s activity: its access to sensitive data; the guidance and decision-making around its firings of federal employees; the potential conflicts of interest around its leadership; and its internal communications.

They seek the names, job titles and qualifications of DOGE staffers who have “been granted access to personally identifiable or sensitive information” since inauguration day, Jan. 20, and their purpose for doing so.

Additionally, they want to know about the various computer programs, including but “not limited to, artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs), your agency is using to store, process or analyze personally identifiable or sensitive information or data.”

The request seeks all DOGE directives, guidance and analyses around the firing of federal workers, including the dismissal of Inspectors General, and the undoing of various government agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Education and others.

Democrats are also requesting information about DOGE’s authority to direct and execute these directives as well as details around the funding of DOGE operations.

Musk, DOGE Administrator Gleason and some 40 other employees are listed in the FOIA request, which seeks information about their resumes, salaries, any conflict of interest waivers and any non-disclosure agreements involving their employment.

The request also seeks all communication from those workers, including via text message, and various messaging platforms, and specifically around key words including Musk-related entities SpaceX, Starlink, Twitter, Tesla and others.

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Republished with permission of The Associated Press.

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As the director of the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory at the University of Florida, I am fortunate to have access to world-class scientific minds and cutting-edge technology.

But in Florida, this expertise and innovation doesn’t just stay in the classroom or laboratory. They are deployed in all 67 counties to control mosquitoes, keep residents and visitors safe, and ensure our state remains the best in the nation to live and work.

Florida has long been an international leader in mosquito control. The Florida Mosquito Control Association (FMCA) was founded over 100 years ago by local business leaders who realized that the state’s economy and health required vigilant and collaborative approaches to reduce the risk.

Since then, our work and expertise have become internationally renowned. Florida hosts symposiums that bring mosquito control professionals from around the world, eager to learn and share successful approaches to keeping the public safe.

There are more than 80 species of mosquitoes in Florida. While most pose little or no threat, many can carry harmful or deadly diseases for humans and animals.

For example, some mosquitoes carry the dengue virus, which sickens hundreds of millions worldwide yearly.

While the disease is relatively rare in Florida, our state experienced more than 1,000 travel-related and 91 local cases of dengue virus in 2024.

How do we work to protect Floridians from this disease? We deploy a wide range of techniques, and each of our mosquito control districts works together.

In labs around the state, highly trained scientists analyze mosquitoes to determine if they are carrying disease.

They also monitor livestock and chickens, who act as early warning systems. Scientists routinely take and analyze blood samples to determine if mosquito-carried diseases are present.

We also take to the air with tools like the Skydio drone, a powerful tool for identifying mosquito breeding grounds from above. Drones provide the ability to visually inspect and perform control measures in otherwise difficult-to-reach areas.

With some mosquitoes resistant to traditional pesticides, innovative strategies make Florida an international leader in cutting-edge mosquito control techniques.

Among those is the “Sterile Insect Technique,” which uses X-rays to sterilize male mosquitos, which are released to mate with females with resulting eggs that are not viable.

The Florida Keys Mosquito District has also successfully used Oxitec’s targeted biological pest control technology to combat the disease-transmitting Aedes aegypti mosquito.

But even with the technology and science being used around the state to control mosquitoes, one of the most effective tools will always remain smart vigilance from every Floridian.

Preparing for mosquitoes is similar to what Floridians do each hurricane season. Simple steps like removing standing water and wearing insect repellant can reduce mosquitoes around your home and mitigate public health risks.

The truth is that mosquitoes will continue to carry diseases and adapt to some control measures. That means we must also continue to adapt, and creating and using innovative practices will always be needed to keep Florida safe and welcoming for everyone.

For more information, visit FMCA by clicking here.

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Dr. Jorge Rey is the FMCA president and professor at the University of Florida’s Medical Entomology Laboratory.

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