A group operating under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has reportedly been granted access to the US Treasury Department’s payment system.
After Donald Trump assumed office as the 47th President of the United States, he issued an executive order to create and implement the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), a temporary body led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
On Friday, January 31st, newly appointed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly authorized the DOGE team to monitor the Treasury’s payment system.
Following the resignation of acting Treasury Secretary David A. Lebryk, Bessent took the oath of office on January 28 as the 79th Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, according to the Washington Post.
Typically, Treasury operations are managed by an individual without political affiliations. However, as reported by five individuals “familiar with the change” in The New York Times, Bessent authorized DOGE representatives to oversee the Treasury’s payment operations.
The Economic Times identifies the representative as Silicon Valley executive Tom Krause, whose team functions under DOGE.
The Treasury’s payment system manages various payments, including Social Security benefits, Medicare, and tax refunds.
In a letter addressed to Secretary Bessent, Senator Ron Wyden stated: “The Bureau of the Fiscal Service’s payment systems control the flow of more than $6 trillion in annual payments to households, businesses and other entities nationwide.”
“These payment systems process more than a billion payments annually and are responsible for the distribution of Social Security and Medicare benefits, tax refunds, payments to federal employees and contractors, including competitors of Musk-owned companies and thousands of other functions.”
Senator Wyden expressed concern over reports that Musk and DOGE ‘attempted to gain access to systems that control payments to millions of American citizens,’ describing it as ‘disturbing’.
He added: “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.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren shared similar concerns, stating: “It’s alarming that Elon Musk is attempting to gain access to the Federal Government’s critical payment system, which is responsible for delivering Social Security checks, tax refunds, and Medicare benefits to Americans across the country.”
Former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew also emphasized that “the American people should not have to worry about political interference when it comes to receiving Social Security and other payments the fiscal service makes.”
“And as the world’s reserve currency, it is crucial to maintain confidence around the globe that the US Government will make timely payments on its obligations,” he concluded.