US congressional watchdog to probe changes at the SEC, letter says
Source: Reuters
April 14, 2025 10:47 AM EDT Updated 3 hours ago
NEW YORK, April 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. Government Accountability Office plans to scrutinize changes at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including any led by the White House or Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, according to a letter sent to Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
The GAO, Congress' nonpartisan research arm, told senators Elizabeth Warren and Mark Warner it will review the SEC's recent efforts to cut staff, end leases and consolidate its work, according to a copy of the April 8 letter seen by Reuters.
The lawmakers last month pressed the watchdog to investigate after Reuters and other media reported DOGE's arrival and other major changes at the regulator, which oversees U.S. capital markets. That request "is within the scope of (GAO's) authority," said the letter signed by A. Nicole Clowers, managing director of GAO's congressional relations office, confirming the work would begin in about three months.
The SEC has undergone big changes since President Donald Trump took office and Republicans took over the agency, scrapping high-profile cases, reorganizing staff and reining in enforcement staff's ability to kick off formal probes. The commission is also facing an exodus, with hundreds of staff taking resignation offers amid efforts to remake the U.S. government. Trump, along with special adviser Musk, are undertaking a massive downsizing across federal agencies.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-congressional-watchdog-probe-changes-sec-letter-says-2025-04-14/
Note that GAO is NOT an Executive Branch entity but is run by Congress.
Link to original Sen. Warren & Sen. Warner PRESS RELEASE - Warren, Warner Call for GAO Investigation into DOGE Activities at SEC
Link to LETTER to GAO (PDF) - https://www.banking.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/FINAL%2020250328%20Warren%20Warner%20Letter%20to%20GAO%20re%20SEC%20DOGE.pdf
(as a side note - this is the 2nd GAO request that Warren has on the books - an earlier, far more sweeping one, is described here - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143424734)
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