Concerns Rise as Elon Musk’s Team Gains Access to Sensitive U.S. Treasury Payments System
Representatives of Elon Musk have been granted full access to a critical U.S. Treasury Department payments system responsible for handling trillions of dollars annually. This decision, approved by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, has sparked significant concerns about national security risks.
Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) has voiced strong opposition, warning that Musk’s access to the system creates potential vulnerabilities. According to Wyden, Musk’s representatives now have visibility into nearly all federal disbursements, including Social Security and Medicare payments, government grants, and payments to contractors—some of whom directly compete with Musk’s businesses. Wyden expressed his concerns publicly, stating on Bluesky that this level of access could pose a serious risk to national security.
What Is the Payments System?
The system in question is operated by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service and oversees approximately $6 trillion in federal payments annually. It also holds vast amounts of personal data on millions of Americans. Typically, access to such systems is tightly restricted due to their highly sensitive nature.
Treasury Secretary Bessent granted Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to the system on Friday, following a contentious standoff earlier in the week. The move came shortly after David A. Lebryk, the Treasury’s highest-ranking career official, left the department amid reported resistance to DOGE’s requests.
Wyden detailed his concerns in a letter to Secretary Bessent, emphasizing:
“The payments system simply cannot fail, and any politically motivated meddling in them risks severe damage to our country and the economy.”
Key Figures and Growing Concerns
One of the DOGE representatives now authorized to access the system is Tom Krause, CEO of Cloud Software Group, which owns Citrix and other tech companies. Neither Krause nor the Treasury Department has responded to requests for comment.
Wyden has raised alarms over Musk’s growing influence on government systems, highlighting potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities and Musk’s significant business ties to China. These concerns come against the backdrop of heightened U.S.-China tensions, with China being blamed for major cyberattacks, including last year’s breach of Treasury systems.
Wyden also pointed to the 2015 Office of Personnel Management (OPM) hack, attributed to China, which exposed sensitive data on over 22 million federal employees. Reports have recently surfaced that Musk’s representatives locked career civil servants out of sensitive OPM systems. There are fears that similar actions could open the door to further security breaches. DOGE representatives are reportedly now scrutinizing multiple government departments, including OPM.
A Larger Strategy at Play?
This development appears to be part of a broader push by Musk and his team to expand their influence over federal operations, particularly following Donald Trump’s return to office on January 20. Since taking office, Trump has tasked Musk with implementing widespread spending cuts across the federal government. Since then, Musk’s representatives have been placed in key agencies, including OPM and the General Services Administration (GSA), which manages federal real estate.
What’s Next?
As DOGE takes on oversight of increasingly critical government technology, concerns over data integrity, cybersecurity, and foreign influence are expected to grow. Many will be watching closely as this controversy unfolds, with scrutiny of Musk’s expanding role in federal operations likely to intensify.
Via: The New York Times
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