Elon Musk responds after claims of DOGE gaining access to sensitive payment systems: Team discovered that …
TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Feb 3, 2025, 01.02 AM IST
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force led by Tesla CEO and billionaire adviser Elon Musk under President Donald Trump, has reportedly secured access to sensitive Treasury data, including Social Security and Medicare payment systems. According to a report in the New York Times, quoting two individuals familiar with the situation, this development raises concerns about potential misuse of taxpayer information. The New York Times first reported the news of the group's access to the massive federal payment system.
Senator Ron Wyden, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, voiced his concerns in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Wyden cautioned that Musk’s associates may have intended to manipulate the payment systems to withhold funds from certain programs. He emphasized the importance of these systems remaining apolitical, warning that interference could cause severe economic and national harm.
Resignation of Treasury Official Following DOGE’s Involvement
Shortly after DOGE requested access to the Treasury’s financial systems, acting Deputy Secretary David Lebryk resigned after more than three decades of service. Although his resignation letter did not directly reference DOGE, reports suggest that Musk’s group played a role in his decision to step down. “The Fiscal Service performs some of the most vital functions in government,” Lebryk wrote in his farewell message, expressing pride in his team’s contributions to financial stability.
Elon Musk Defends DOGE’s Actions
Following Lebryk's resignation, Musk commented on his social media platform X, claiming that Treasury officials had been approving payments to fraudulent and terrorist organizations without scrutiny. "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. They literally never denied a payment in their entire career," Musk wrote.
For those unaware, the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, is not a government department, but a team within the administration. It has been put together at President Donald Trump’s direction by Musk to fan out across federal agencies seeking ways to cut spending and bring more efficiency to the bureaucracy.
Concerns Raised by Senate Democrat
Senator Ron Wyden, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, voiced his concerns in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Wyden cautioned that Musk’s associates may have intended to manipulate the payment systems to withhold funds from certain programs. He emphasized the importance of these systems remaining apolitical, warning that interference could cause severe economic and national harm.
Resignation of Treasury Official Following DOGE’s Involvement
Shortly after DOGE requested access to the Treasury’s financial systems, acting Deputy Secretary David Lebryk resigned after more than three decades of service. Although his resignation letter did not directly reference DOGE, reports suggest that Musk’s group played a role in his decision to step down. “The Fiscal Service performs some of the most vital functions in government,” Lebryk wrote in his farewell message, expressing pride in his team’s contributions to financial stability.Elon Musk Defends DOGE’s Actions
Following Lebryk's resignation, Musk commented on his social media platform X, claiming that Treasury officials had been approving payments to fraudulent and terrorist organizations without scrutiny. "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. They literally never denied a payment in their entire career," Musk wrote. For those unaware, the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, is not a government department, but a team within the administration. It has been put together at President Donald Trump’s direction by Musk to fan out across federal agencies seeking ways to cut spending and bring more efficiency to the bureaucracy.