Elon Musk visited CIA headquarters on Monday to discuss government efficiency, according to Liz Lyons, the CIA’s director of public affairs. This marks Musk’s first visit since the creation of DOGE.
Lyons stated that Musk, a senior adviser to President Trump, was welcomed by CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Deputy Director Michael Ellis. Several top CIA career officials also attended the meeting. During the discussion, Musk shared insights from DOGE’s work in other federal departments and explored how similar strategies might be applied at the CIA.
A source familiar with the situation said DOGE, unlike other government departments, will not have unrestricted access to CIA databases or internal systems due to the agency’s top-secret nature.
The CIA formed an internal DOGE team following Trump’s executive order. This group, composed of CIA career officials, has been working for several weeks. The meeting did not include an intelligence briefing for Musk but instead focused on how the CIA’s unique nature differentiates it from other government agencies.
Ratcliffe and his team discussed with Musk ways to adopt efficiency measures used in other agencies while maintaining national security. The meeting also covered the role of technology in enhancing efficiency.
Lyons added that Ratcliffe emphasized the importance of responsibly using taxpayer funds to support the CIA’s mission of defending the United States.
