Authorities in San Francisco are investigating an unusual incident involving three men who posed as agents from a fictional government agency called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The suspects attempted to gain access to sensitive information at City Hall on Friday afternoon, but their efforts were thwarted by city employees who recognized the ruse and alerted law enforcement.
The event unfolded around noon when the men, dressed in shirts emblazoned with the DOGE logo and wearing MAGA hats, approached City Hall. According to the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department, they entered several offices and demanded that employees hand over digital information related to what they claimed were “alleged wasteful government spending and fraud.”
City Hall staff immediately refused their demands and contacted the sheriff’s department. As deputies arrived on the scene within minutes, the suspects fled the building, suggesting they were aware their scheme was about to be uncovered. Tara Moriarty, the sheriff’s Director of Communications, stated, “We do not believe they were DOGE representatives. As soon as the sheriffs were called, they walked out of the building. They knew that their jig was up.”
The sheriff’s department is currently reviewing surveillance footage from City Hall as part of its investigation into the incident. This bizarre attempt to impersonate federal officials raises concerns about security and the lengths to which individuals might go to exploit government systems.
In a broader context, the DOGE agency has been a subject of controversy. Actual employees of the DOGE, reportedly connected to tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, have faced scrutiny for their attempts to access sensitive data from various government departments, including the Treasury. Recent court rulings have blocked these efforts, highlighting ongoing tensions between government oversight and private interests in accessing public records.
As the investigation continues, questions remain about the motivations behind the impersonation and whether there are broader implications for security protocols at public institutions.