
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump administration task force focused on cutting federal programs and jobs, has gained access to sensitive Treasury payment systems, including Social Security and Medicare transactions. The move has raised alarms among lawmakers, with Senate Finance Committee ranking Democrat Ron Wyden warning that politically motivated interference could disrupt critical payments.
The access request reportedly contributed to the resignation of longtime Treasury official David Lebryk. Musk has defended DOGE’s involvement, claiming Treasury officials had routinely approved payments to “fraudulent and terrorist-linked entities,” though he has provided no evidence. The development follows DOGE’s broader agenda of regulatory rollbacks and cost-cutting measures, prompting concerns about the potential withholding or manipulation of government funds.