The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump administration task force chaired by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has gained access to the Treasury Department's payment systems, including those handling Social Security and Medicare disbursements, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
The development has raised alarm among lawmakers, particularly Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, who expressed concerns that "officials associated with Musk may have intended to access these payment systems to illegally withhold payments to any number of programs."
In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Wyden warned, "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."
DOGE's Expanding Role and Musk's Fraud Allegations
DOGE, established through an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, was tasked with cutting federal programs, reducing regulations, and identifying areas of "government inefficiency." The New York Times first reported that DOGE had been granted full access to the Treasury's payment infrastructure, which oversees $6 trillion in annual federal payments, including government contracts, grants, and entitlement programs.
Musk responded to the revelations on X, writing, "The @DOGE team discovered, among other things, that payment approval officers at Treasury were instructed always to approve payments, even to known fraudulent or terrorist groups. They literally never denied a payment in their entire career. Not even once."
Musk did not provide evidence for the claim, and neither the Treasury Department nor the White House has commented on the allegations.
Treasury Official Resigns After Dispute Over DOGE Access
Concerns over DOGE's reach into the Treasury's systems intensified following the resignation of Acting Deputy Treasury Secretary David Lebryk. According to The Washington Post, Lebryk left the department after DOGE personnel requested access to sensitive payment data, a move he reportedly opposed.
In his resignation letter to Treasury employees, Lebryk wrote, "The Fiscal Service performs some of the most vital functions in government. Our work may be unknown to most of the public, but that doesn't mean it isn't exceptionally important." He did not mention DOGE's involvement.
Lockouts and Administrative Disruptions Reported
DOGE's reach has extended beyond Treasury. Civil servants at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which functions as the federal government's human resources agency, were reportedly locked out of office computer systems following DOGE's intervention, according to multiple reports.
Trump's executive order mandates that federal agency heads provide DOGE with access to "all unclassified agency records, software systems, and IT systems." The order further states that "USDS shall adhere to rigorous data protection standards", though it does not specify the scope of DOGE's authority over sensitive financial transactions.
Political and Economic Implications
The involvement of DOGE in federal payments has sparked bipartisan concerns over financial oversight and potential conflicts of interest. Sen. Wyden noted that DOGE's access to Treasury's payment systems includes government contracts that compete directly with Musk's companies, raising ethical questions about the arrangement.
Meanwhile, Trump and Musk have defended DOGE's role, arguing that government inefficiency and unchecked spending have fueled inflation and waste. During an August 2024 interview on X, Musk said, "If the government spends far more than it brings in, that increases the money supply. If the money supply increases faster than the rate of goods and services, that's inflation."
He added, "We need a government efficiency commission to say like, 'Hey, where are we spending money that's sensible? Where is it not sensible?'"
DOGE was initially co-chaired by Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, though Ramaswamy has since stepped down to explore a gubernatorial run in Ohio.
What Comes Next?
With DOGE's access to Treasury systems now public, scrutiny over Trump's efforts to consolidate control over federal spending is likely to increase. House and Senate Democrats are expected to demand oversight hearings, while watchdog groups may push for legal challenges to DOGE's authority.
Musk, however, has shown little concern over the political pushback. On Saturday, he wrote on X, "Very few in the bureaucracy actually work the weekend, so it's like the opposing team just leaves the field for 2 days! Working the weekend is a superpower."
