The US Treasury confirmed on Tuesday that Elon Musk‘s government reform team, under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been granted read-only access to its sensitive payment system. However, they are not authorized to make any changes. This announcement follows concerns raised by Democratic lawmakers, who have called for an investigation into the decision.
Musk Leads Effort to Cut Federal Costs
Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, is leading President Donald Trump’s initiative to reduce federal spending. As part of this effort, Musk advocated for a team, led by IT expert Tom Krause, to gain access to the Treasury’s secure payment system. This system processes trillions of dollars in transactions, including Social Security and Medicare payments, as well as federal employee salaries.
Democratic Senators Demand Investigation
In response, Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden sent a letter to the congressional oversight agency, urging an investigation into reports that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent personally authorized Musk’s team to access the system.
Treasury Explains “Read-Only” Access
The Treasury Department clarified in a letter to Congress, shared with AFP, that Krause’s team has only “read-only access” to the payment system. This access is meant for assessing operational efficiency and is similar to what is provided to auditors who review Treasury systems.
Opposition From Democratic Lawmakers
Musk’s efficiency drive has sparked strong opposition from Democratic lawmakers, who have raised concerns about the legal and ethical implications of his efforts to cut federal spending. They have expressed their dissatisfaction with Musk’s involvement in government data handling and cost-cutting measures.
Lawsuit Challenges Access to Taxpayer Data
A coalition of labor unions and a grassroots advocacy group has filed a lawsuit challenging Musk’s access to taxpayer information. They are asking a federal judge to declare it illegal for Musk or others from DOGE to access personal taxpayer data and to prevent the Treasury Department from allowing such access.
Musk Defends His Efforts on Social Media
In a post on X, the social media platform Musk owns, he defended his actions. He stated that the “only way to stop fraud and waste of taxpayer money is to follow the payment flows and pause suspicious transactions for review.”
Approval and Controversy Over Access
The approval for Musk’s team to access the payment system came from Bessent. This decision followed the placement of a career official on administrative leave after that official refused to grant access. The official later retired.