Elon Musk’s DOGE staffers don’t have access to U.S. nuclear secrets, Energy secretary says
DOGE staffers who are working at the Department of Energy do not have access to U.S. nuclear secrets, Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC in an interview Friday.
“I’ve heard these rumors. They’re like seeing our nuclear secrets. None of that is true at all,” Wright told CNBC’s Brian Sullivan in an exclusive interview. One of the core responsibilities of the department is maintaining and modernizing the U.S. nuclear stockpile.
The secretary said three staffers from the Elon Musk-led advisory team that the Trump administration calls the Department of Government Efficiency are working in the Energy Department’s offices.
“I know exactly who they are,” the secretary said. “They run through, checked by our security, and they have access to look around, talk to people and give us some good feedback on how things are going.”
Wright’s comments come after people familiar with the matter told CNN that a 23-year-old representative from DOGE was given access to the Energy Department’s IT system over objections from members of the general counsel and chief information offices.
The people identified the staffer to CNN as a former SpaceX intern named Luke Farritor. He was granted access to basic IT systems such as email and Microsoft 365, one of the people told CNN.
CNBC has reached out to the Department of Energy for comment on the details of CNN’s report.
DOGE staffers’ access to government systems has raised privacy concerns. Wright told CNBC that the staffers “don’t have anybody’s proprietary information.” The secretary compared the staffers to “young gun management consultants coming in to take a critical look at how things are run.”
A DOGE staff member, Marko Elez, resigned Thursday after The Wall Street Journal connected the 25-year-old to a social media account that made racist posts. Elez had received approval from a federal judge earlier in the day to access the Treasury Department’s payment system, but the judge restricted his ability to share data from that system.
The Oshkosh-built Striker Volterra electric ARFF vehicle (Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighter) packs advanced battery technology and multiple power options to deliver consistent emergency response performance no matter how long it needs to be in action.
Oshkosh has been manufacturing ARFF vehicles since it first launched the MB-5 for use by the US Navy back in 1968, and they’ve been pushing the envelope of disaster response performance ever since. The company’s latest ARFF, the electric-drive Striker Volterra shown here, features a slanted body with front bumper designed for maneuvering through the ditches and rough terrain they might encounter on a damaged runway. It’s also big — but it’s big for a purpose. Because ARFF vehicles don’t have to navigate the confines of city streets, they can be built bigger, carry more water, more rescue equipment, and more personnel than conventional fire trucks.
But that’s not why you’re reading about this on Electrek. You’re here to read about the Striker Volterra’s advanced battery tech, electric drive motors, and duty cycle-extending genset that effectively makes it a big EREV. More sympathetic I could not be, but — alas! — OshKosh hasn’t officially revealed those specs.
That said, it’s probably safe to assume they’re pretty similar to those used on the big Pierce fire fighting chassis developed for the Gilbert, Arizona fire department, which uses (you guessed it) an OshKosh-developed battery pack, electric drive system, and onboard diesel generator that can provide power to the electric system. That vehicle packs a 244 kWh battery pack good for up to six hours of operation on battery power alone.
The OshKosk electric Striker Volterra ARFF shown here is a Class 5 6×6 “rapid response” model capable of hauling up to 4,000 gallons of water (over 16 and a half tons, if you’re curious) and “firefighting foam” across an airport at speeds of up to 50 mph, which is positively moving for a machine this size. Plus, it supports zero-emission pumping, surpassing the NFPA required 2-hour continuous pump operation without using diesel.
Again, OshKosh hasn’t shared power and performance specs, but has confirmed that its electric drive Striker Volterra is 28% quicker to 50 mph than its Scania diesel-powered siblings, and that truck packs 550 hp and more than 1,750 ft‑lb torque. So — yeah. It’s got some juice.
Other key benefits, according to OshKosh, include a 75% reduction in total carbon footprint when compared to a conventional internal combustion engine ARFF vehicle based on the manufacturer’s estimated duty cycle, the eliminated need for long diesel idling times, and the ability to run on full-electric when entering, leaving and idling in the fire station, significantly reducing firefighter’s exposure to harmful emissions.
You can find out more by reading the official OshKosh ARFF vehicle reference guide here.
Electrek’s Take
With the relatively short distances driven and extreme loads involved, airports present a nearly ideal use case for battery-electric vehicles in general, and their immediate off-the-line torque, improved efficiency, and ability to operate much more quietly than diesels (facilitating communications) could make all the difference in an emergency situation where lives are quite literally on the line.
Plus, as demand for on-road fossil fuels drops, airports and airlines (historically responsible for about 4% Earth’s global warming) are becoming a bigger and bigger slice of a rapidly shrinking pie when it comes to fossil fuel emissions.
Or, as OshKosk puts it: As airports continue to prioritize sustainability and operational efficiency, the Striker Volterra electric ARFF stands out as a forward-thinking solution that meets today’s demands while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges.
It’s a bit pitchy, but I couldn’t agree more.
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Thanks to a new $10,000 bonus offer introduced this month, the cheapest Lexus you can currently lease is now the 2025 electric RZ. Is it worth checking out?
The cheapest Lexus you can lease is the 2025 RZ
Lexus slashed over $10,000 off the price of the 2025 RZ compared to the 2024MY by introducing a new entry-level 300e FWD trim.
Following the launch of a new promotion this June, Lexus is offering up to $11,500 off 2025 RZ models. The RZ is now the cheapest Lexus vehicle you can lease, starting at $399 for 36 months. With $1,999 due at signing, you’ll end up with an effective monthly cost of $455. Not too bad for a nearly $45,000 luxury electric SUV.
The offer is for the 2025 Lexus RZ 300e FWD with an MSRP of $44,314. In comparison, the 2025 Lexus UX 300h FWD Hybrid, with an MSRP of $39,615, is listed at $349 for 36 months.
With $3,999 due at signing, the monthly effective cost is $460, or $5 more than the RZ. If you’re looking for a higher trim, the RZ 450e is available with up to $11,500 in lease cash.
The entry-level 2025 Lexus RZ 300e FWD model offers a range of up to 266 miles, while the AWD 450e variants achieve a range of up to 220 miles.
Inside, the electric SUV features a standard 14″ infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. With 37.52″ of rear legroom, the electric SUV has nearly as much second row space as a Ford Explorer (39″).
Although it’s a good deal compared to other Lexus vehicles, other luxury electric SUVs from Acura, Cadillac, and Genesis may still offer better value.
Acura is currently offering nearly $30,000 in lease cash on 2024 ZDX models in select states, with leases starting as low as $299 per month for 24 months. With $2,999 due at signing, the effective monthly rate is only $423. The ZDX offers up to 313 miles of range and more rear legroom (39.4″).
Cadillac’s new entry-level electric SUV, the 2025 Optiq, with an MSRP of $54,390, is listed for lease at just $409 for 24 months. However, it does include a $4,909 due at signing, resulting in an effective monthly rate of $614. The Optiq has up to 302 miles of range and 37.8″ of rear legroom.
| 2025 Lexus RZ model | Starting Price* | EPA-estimated Driving Range |
| RZ 450e AWD | $48,675 | 220 miles |
| RZ 450e Premium AWD w/ 18″ Wheel | $52,875 | 220 miles |
| RZ 450e Premium AWD w/ 20″ Wheel | $54,115 | 196 miles |
| RZ 450e Luxury AWD | $58,605 | 220 miles |
| RZ 300e FWD | $43,975 | 266 miles |
| RZ 300e Premium FWD w/ 18″ Wheel | $48,175 | 266 miles |
| RZ 300e Premium FWD w/ 20″ Wheel | $49,415 | 224 miles |
| RZ 300e Luxury FWD | $53,905 | 266 miles |
Meanwhile, you can snag a 2025 Genesis GV60 (MSRP of $52,350) for $349 for 24 months right now. With $5,999 due at signing, the effective rate is $598.
The new Lexus promotion follows Toyota, which introduced up to $19,000 in savings on its electric SUV, the bZ4X, earlier this month. Both are making room for updated models that will arrive soon.
Looking for your next luxury electric SUV? We can help you find deals in your area. Check out our links below to see what’s available.
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Signage is seen at the United States Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, D.C., August 29, 2020.
Andrew Kelly | Reuters
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have charged the founder of a U.S.-based cryptocurrency payments firm with operating what they allege was a sophisticated international money laundering scheme that moved over half a billion dollars on behalf of sanctioned Russian banks and other entities.
Iurii Gugnin, a 38-year-old Russian national living in Manhattan, was arrested and arraigned Monday and ordered held without bail pending trial.
Gugnin faces a 22-count indictment accusing him of wire and bank fraud, violating U.S. sanctions and export controls, money laundering, and failing to implement legally required anti-money laundering protocols.
“The defendant is charged with turning a cryptocurrency company into a covert pipeline for dirty money, moving over half a billion dollars through the U.S. financial system to aid sanctioned Russian banks and help Russian end-users acquire sensitive U.S. technology,” Assistant Attorney General Eisenberg said in a statement.
Prosecutors said Gugnin used his companies — Evita Investments and Evita Pay — to process about $530 million in payments while concealing the origins and purposes of the funds. Between June 2023 and January 2025, he allegedly funneled the money through U.S. banks and cryptocurrency exchanges, primarily using tether, a widely used, dollar-pegged stablecoin.
Clients included individuals and businesses linked to sanctioned Russian institutions such as Sberbank, VTB Bank, Sovcombank, Tinkoff, and the state-owned nuclear energy firm Rosatom.
To carry out the scheme, Gugnin allegedly misrepresented the scope of his business, falsified compliance documentation, and lied to banks and digital asset platforms about his ties to Russia. Prosecutors say he masked the source of funds through shell accounts and doctored more than 80 invoices, digitally erasing the identities of Russian counterparties.
Investigators also cite internet searches indicating he knew he was under scrutiny, including queries like “how to know if there is an investigation against you” and “money laundering penalties US.”
The Justice Department said Gugnin maintained direct ties to members of Russia’s intelligence service and officials in Iran — countries that do not extradite to the U.S.
He is also accused of helping the export of sensitive U.S. technology to Russian clients, including an anti-terrorism-controlled server.
Gugnin was profiled last fall in a Wall Street Journal article about high-net-worth renters in Manhattan, where he reportedly paid $19,000 per month for an apartment.
If convicted on bank fraud charges, he faces a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, but if convicted on all counts, Gugnin could be given a consecutive maximum sentence significantly longer than his lifetime.
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