WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by President Donald Trump’s advisor and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has reportedly gained access to sensitive data from the Treasury Department, which includes Social Security and Medicare payment systems. This information comes from two individuals familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
The establishment of DOGE, aimed at identifying opportunities to reduce the federal workforce, eliminate various programs, and streamline regulations, raises concerns regarding its unrestricted access to critical taxpayer information. This newly reported access could pose significant implications for vulnerable government payment systems. The New York Times was the first to disclose DOGE’s access to these essential federal payment mechanisms.
Senator Ron Wyden, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, expressed strong concern over this development in a letter sent to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Wyden alarming warned that officials affiliated with Musk might intend to manipulate these payment systems possibly to withhold funds from multiple government programs. He emphasized, “To put it bluntly, these payment systems simply cannot fail, and any politically motivated meddling in them risks severe damage to our country and the economy.”
The situation was further complicated by the resignation of David Lebryk, the acting Deputy Secretary of Treasury, who left his post after more than 30 years of service. According to The Washington Post, Lebryk’s resignation was prompted by DOGE’s request for access to sensitive Treasury data. In a letter to Treasury employees, Lebryk acknowledged the critical functions performed by the Fiscal Service, stressing the importance of their work despite its low public visibility.
In light of Lebryk’s resignation, Elon Musk took to his social media platform, X, to respond to a related post. He claimed that the DOGE team found evidence suggesting that payment approval officials at the Treasury were instructed to approve all payments without exception, including to entities suspected of fraud or terrorism. Musk did not provide any verifiable evidence to support this assertion.
Initially, DOGE was co-led by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential candidate. Together, they pledged to drastically cut billions from the federal budget while proposing significant reductions in the federal workforce. However, Ramaswamy has distanced himself from DOGE as he considers a gubernatorial run in Ohio.
This unfolding scenario points to a tense intersection of financial oversight and political agendas, raising alarms about the security and integrity of crucial government payment systems amid potential partisan influence. The increasing involvement of Musk and his affiliates in government operations aims to streamline processes while simultaneously igniting debate about accountability and the implications of privatizing official functions.
