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A US senator has questioned giving representatives of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) “full access” to a payments system for the US Treasury.
According to two unnamed sources close to the matter, Musk and DOGE have gained access to sensitive Treasury data that contains Medicare customer payments data and Social Security information.
For context, DOGE is a temporary organisation that works with the US government and is responsible for finding ways to save the government money, culling departments, systems and red tape that it deems unnecessary.
Senator Ron Wyden questioned Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent after it was reported that a person connected to Musk sought access to the Treasury Department payment system, which “is maintained by non-political staff, disperses trillions of dollars each year, such as Social Security and Medicare benefits, tax credits for individuals and businesses, grants and payments to government contractors, including those that compete directly with Musk-owned companies”.
In a letter to Bessent, Wyden stressed the importance of the payment systems and that any political interference could negatively impact the US as a whole.
“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,” said Wyden.
“I am deeply concerned that following the federal grant and loan freeze earlier this week, these officials associated with Musk may have intended to access these payment systems to illegally withhold payments to any number of programs.”
Earlier this month, Musk claimed that the Treasury officers responsible for approving payments never denied payments, and even approved payments for fraudsters and terrorists.
“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,” he claimed on X, not providing any evidence.
“They literally never denied a payment in their entire career.
“Not even once.”
This follows the resignation of highest ranking Treasury official, David A. Lebryk, after DOGE requested access to sensitive Treasury systems.
The granted access has raised major concerns, partly regarding his business in China, representing a conflict of interest.
According to Democratic Senator Patty Murray, Musk could use the access to sway industry, targeting the political enemies of his business rivals.
“An unelected, unaccountable billionaire with expansive conflicts of interest, deep ties to China and an industry axe to grind against perceived enemies is hijacking our nation’s most sensitive financial systems and its checkbook,” said Murray.
Others are calling the access a data breach, including Wyden and the Democratic leader of the US Senate, Chuck Schumer.
“Donald Trump basically handed DOGE the Social Security data of virtually every American citizen,” Schumer said.
“Donald Trump gave DOGE access to America’s personal tax refund data. He gave DOGE access to people’s Medicare and Medicaid benefits, disability payment data, veteran benefit data.”
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