Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and adviser to US President Donald Trump, has gained access to sensitive U.S. Treasury information, including Social Security and Medicare payment systems. According to two sources, this move grants significant control over taxpayer funds.

DOGE’s Expanding Influence Over Federal Funds

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created by Trump, is responsible for cutting programs, firing federal employees, and reducing regulations. Now, with access to Treasury data, it could influence crucial payment decisions.

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Concerns Rise Over DOGE’s Access to Federal Payments

The New York Times first reported that DOGE had gained access to Treasury’s payment system. Later, The Associated Press confirmed the news through anonymous sources.

On Friday, Senator Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, expressed concerns in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He warned, “Officials associated with Musk may have intended to access these payment systems to illegally withhold payments to any number of programs.” He also cautioned, “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.”

Treasury Official Resigns Amid Controversy

David Lebryk, Treasury’s acting Deputy Secretary, has resigned after 30 years of service. According to The Washington Post, he stepped down after Musk and DOGE requested access to federal payment data.

In his farewell message to Treasury employees, Lebryk acknowledged the department’s critical role, stating, “Our work may be unknown to most of the public, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t exceptionally important.” However, he did not mention DOGE’s request.

Musk Defends DOGE, But Provides No Proof

Following the news, Musk responded on his social media platform, X. He claimed, “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.” However, he did not offer any evidence.

Ramaswamy’s Exit from DOGE and Future Plans

Initially, Musk co-led DOGE with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Together, they aimed to cut billions from the federal budget and shrink government staff. However, Ramaswamy has since left DOGE as he considers running for governor of Ohio.