Elon Recruits UC Berkeley Grad Akash Bobba To DOGE Amid Uproar Over Hiring Of ‘Kids’

Photo: @tariquesha1

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – The newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by Elon Musk, has drawn scrutiny for its recruitment choices of  six engineers ages 19-24 which includes 22-year-old Akash Bobba.

Bobba, a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, has an impressive technical background despite his age. He previously interned at Meta, focusing on AI, worked at Palantir in data analytics, and contributed to Bridgewater Associates in financial modeling. His problem-solving skills gained attention when a former classmate, Charis Zhang, shared on X that Bobba once rewrote an entire project’s codebase overnight after it was accidentally deleted, helping his team secure first place in their class.

SECURITY

Despite his technical expertise, Bobba’s role—along with five other young engineers, including a 19-year-old—has raised concerns. According to Wired, at least four members of the team, including Bobba, have received top-level security clearances despite having no prior government experience. Critics argue that placing individuals with limited knowledge of federal operations in positions with access to sensitive data poses a national security risk.

DOGE’s mission is to streamline federal operations, eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies, and cut billions in government spending, but the department’s structure and leadership choices have already caused internal friction. Reports on X suggest that some government agencies resist Musk’s team, with allegations that certain DOGE personnel attempted to access classified information at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This reportedly led to security officials being placed on leave.

As controversy swirls around DOGE’s unconventional hires, questions remain about oversight, security protocols, and the extent of Musk’s influence within the administration.