The Trump administration has granted access to the federal Treasury payment system to officials associated with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), according to multiple media reports. This system controls the flow of approximately $6 trillion in government funds annually, handling everything from Social Security payments to federal salaries.
Scope of Treasury Payment System Access
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has reportedly approved a plan giving system access to a team led by Tom Krause, CEO of Cloud Software Group. Notably, Krause now serves as a liaison between the Treasury Department and Musk’s DOGE group. Furthermore, sources familiar with the arrangement indicate that the access will be restricted to “read-only” operations, with safeguards preventing any ability to make changes to the system.
Internal Opposition and Leadership Changes
Significantly, this decision has sparked internal controversy within the Treasury Department. As a result of the access approval, David Lebryk, a longtime Treasury official who oversaw financing and payment operations, suddenly retired after more than 30 years of service. Previously, Lebryk had strongly opposed granting access to Musk’s team, citing concerns about system integrity.
Congressional Oversight and Concerns
Subsequently, the move has drawn scrutiny from top Democratic lawmakers. For instance, Senator Ron Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, expressed serious concerns in a letter to Secretary Bessent. “These payment systems simply cannot fail, and any politically motivated meddling in them risks severe damage to our country and the economy,” Wyden wrote.
System Importance and Security Measures
The Treasury payment system handles several critical functions:
- Social Security disbursements
- Tax refund payments
- Federal grant distributions
- Government employee salaries
- Contractor payments
Ongoing Developments and Responses
In response to these developments, Musk has made public statements regarding the system’s oversight. Specifically, he claimed on his social media platform X that the DOGE team had discovered concerning payment approval practices, though these claims remain unverified.
Sources:
Los Angeles Times, Politico, BBC