The Treasury Department has given Elon Musk and representatives of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team access to the vast federal payment system responsible for handling trillions of dollars in government expenditures, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
Jonathan Karl, Will Steakin and Katherine Faulders, ABC NewsThe payment system is essentially a checkbook for the federal government.The Treasury Department has given Elon Musk and representatives of his Department of Government Efficiency team access to the vast federal payment system responsible for handling trillions of dollars in government expenditures, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
The demand for access to the payment system reportedly caused such a rift inside the Treasury Department that the career official who previously oversaw it, David Lebryk, was placed on administrative leave last week after he resisted granting Musk and his government efficiency team access to the database.If Musk or his team were to attempt to block these payments, it would likely face legal challenges given the money is approved by Congress.
In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Sen. Ron Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, said that any "politically-motivated meddling" in the payment systems "risks severe damage to our country and the economy."
Doge Elon Musk Treasury Trump Elon Musk Elon Musk Government Elon Musk News Elon Musk Treasury Access Abc-News National 15858590
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Elon Musk Granted Access to Federal Payment System Amidst Treasury Department ControversyElon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency team have been granted access to the federal government's payment system, raising concerns about potential misuse and political interference.
Read more »
Elon Musk Just Pulled Something Unbelievably Sketchy at the US TreasuryScience and Technology News and Videos
Read more »
Elon Musk's DOGE Getting Access to Treasury Payment Data Alarms CriticsHarvard professor calls data the 'new gold rush' as tech billionaire's department given 'unprecedented' access.
Read more »
Elon Musk's DOGE Team Accuses Treasury of 'Fraudulent' Payments, Gains Access to Government SystemTech billionaire Elon Musk alleges 'fraudulent' payments from the Treasury Department, claiming approval officers approved payments to known fraudulent and terrorist groups. Musk's DOGE team reportedly gained access to the federal government's payment system, which handles around $6 trillion annually.
Read more »
Elon Musk’s DOGE commission gains access to sensitive Treasury payment systems: AP sourcesThe cost-cutting entity has the keys to the federal government’s Social Security and Medicare customer payment systems, the sources reported.
Read more »
Elon Musk’s Attempt to Control the Treasury Payment System Is Incredibly DangerousDonald Trump and Elon Musk could use sensitive Treasury information to punish their enemies — or they could break America’s payment system entirely.
Read more »