According to a former MIT lecturer who helped to initially monetize the internet, unofficial experts aren’t all that uncommon within new presidential administrations – although there are some unique issues that have come to light due to the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE’s, access to personal confidential data and Elon Musk’s conflicts of interest.

Lee McKnight is currently an associate professor in the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University. But during the early days of Bill Clinton administration, he was one of the so-called “DC disruptors” – young computer whizzes from MIT called upon to ensure the nascent "internet" was set up for the common good.

He was a member of a group simply called the “Ad Hoc Committee,” which met every few months in Washington. While it was convened by invitation of both Congress and the Clinton administration, it wasn’t subject to many rules and restrictions, according to McKnight. 

During a conversation with Capital Tonight, McKnight also shared that, back in the 1940s and 50s, Vannevar Bush served as head of the U.S. Office of Scientific Research & Development, which helped fuel the Cold War race for technological supremacy.  During his tenure, he directed billions of dollars to American institutions of higher learning, including MIT, where he was president.

When asked how DOGE is unique, McKnight cited the conflicts of interest that Elon Musk has as the owner of companies like SpaceX which have expensive contracts with the U.S government, which, in turn, have added to his personal bottom line.

On Thursday, New York state Attorney General Letitia and 11 other Democratic AGs from across the country announced they were suing the U.S. Treasury Department for allowing Musk and DOGE to access confidential information.