PolicyBrief
H.RES. 264
119th CongressMar 27th 2025
Of inquiry requesting the President transmit certain documents in his possession to the House of Representatives relating to the security clearances held by Elon Musk, members of the United States Department of Government Efficiency Service, and any other individual considered to be a member of the DOGE team.
IN COMMITTEE

This resolution demands the President transmit all documents related to the security clearances of Elon Musk and members of the DOGE team to the House of Representatives within 14 days.

Robert Garcia
D

Robert Garcia

Representative

CA-42

LEGISLATION

House Demands Unredacted Security Clearance Docs for Elon Musk and 'DOGE Team' Within 14 Days

This resolution is a formal request—or an inquiry—from the House of Representatives directly to the President. It’s essentially a demand for the White House to hand over all documents related to the security clearances, background checks, and vetting processes for a specific group of people. The clock starts ticking the moment this resolution is adopted, with a deadline of 14 days for the President to provide the materials in complete and unredacted form, provided the documents are actually in the President’s possession.

Who Is the House Vetting?

The documents requested target a specific list of individuals, including Elon Musk, and six others: Akash Bobba, Edward Coristine, Ethan Shaotran, Luke Farritor, Gautier Cole Killian, and Gavin Kliger. The request specifies that these individuals are connected to the "United States Department of Government Efficiency Service"—which the resolution refers to as the “DOGE” team—whether they were official employees, contractors, or unofficial workers. This is a classic example of Congress exercising its oversight muscle: checking to make sure the executive branch is following proper procedures when granting access to sensitive information.

The Real-World Impact: Oversight vs. Ambiguity

For the average person, this resolution won't change your commute or your grocery bill, but it speaks to how the government manages sensitive information and who gets access to it. The potential benefit here is transparency: if people with high profiles or significant government contracts are getting clearances, the public—via Congress—has a right to know the vetting process was rigorous. This is about making sure the system is fair and secure, especially when dealing with individuals who might advise the government on critical issues.

However, the resolution introduces some ambiguity that could cause friction. It repeatedly references the “United States Department of Government Efficiency Service” (DOGE) and its “team.” Since this name isn't widely recognized as a standard federal agency, the scope of documents the President must locate is potentially vague. For the Executive Branch, this means a significant administrative burden, likely involving lawyers and security personnel scrambling to locate every piece of paper, email, and communication related to the clearances of these named individuals, and anyone else who might be loosely considered part of this “DOGE team.” The demand for unredacted documents, while necessary for true oversight, also raises the stakes, as it requires the executive branch to potentially expose internal security and vetting methodologies to the House.