Financially.site – The Department of Government Efficiency, managed by Elon Musk, the billionaire advisor to President Donald Trump and CEO of Tesla, has gained access to sensitive Treasury information, including payment systems for Social Security and Medicare, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
This move by DOGE, a task force established by the Trump administration to explore ways to reduce the federal workforce, cut programs, and eliminate federal regulations, indicates that they may have considerable freedom to access vital taxpayer data, among other information.
The New York Times was the first to report on the group’s access to the extensive federal payment system. The two individuals who spoke to The Associated Press requested to remain anonymous as they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.
Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, sent a letter on Friday to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressing his concerns that “officials associated with Musk may have intended to access these payment systems to illegally withhold payments from various programs.” He emphasized, “To be frank, these payment systems must not fail, and any politically motivated interference could pose a significant threat to our country and the economy.”
This development comes after the resignation of David Lebryk, the acting Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, who left his position after more than 30 years of service. The Washington Post reported on Friday that Lebryk resigned following Musk and his DOGE organization’s request for access to sensitive Treasury data.
“The Fiscal Service performs some of the most critical functions in government,” Lebryk noted in a letter to Treasury employees sent out on Friday. “Our work may not be widely recognized by the public, but that does not lessen its significance. I am grateful to have worked alongside some of the nation’s most talented and skilled operational staff.”
