Two members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal office tied to the current administration, were granted user accounts on classified networks that hold sensitive information regarding the United States’ nuclear arsenal, according to two sources with access to those networks.
The individuals identified are Luke Farritor, a 23-year-old former SpaceX intern, and Adam Ramada, a Miami-based investor. Their names appeared for at least two weeks in the internal directories of these systems. Neither had previous experience with nuclear weapons or handling classified information.
A spokesperson for the Department of Energy initially stated that no DOGE staff accessed the systems maintained by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Later, the spokesperson clarified that while the accounts had been created, they were never activated or used.
The classified networks involved are managed by the NNSA and the Department of Defense. One, the NNSA Enterprise Secure Network, is used to transmit highly restricted technical data related to nuclear weapon designs and materials. The other, the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet), facilitates secure classified communications, including between the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy.
Access to these networks typically requires a “Q clearance,” the highest level of security clearance issued by the Department of Energy. It remains unclear whether Farritor or Ramada had the necessary clearance or could have accessed classified data, as these networks follow strict need-to-know protocols and access controls.
Some sources suggest the account creation may have been part of an effort to gain insight into specific programs or budget priorities. However, the presence of user accounts alone does not imply full access to the content within these systems.
The development comes amid increasing scrutiny of DOGE’s role in various federal agencies and the protocols in place for managing sensitive government data.
