The Treasury Department has reportedly granted Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team access to the federal payment system, which oversees the allocation of trillions of dollars in government expenditures, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation, as reported by ABC News.
This payment system, essentially the U.S. government’s financial ledger, is a highly a confidential operation managed by career officials, with only a select few authorized to access the sensitive data it contains, which impacts hundreds of millions of Americans.
The request for such access caused a significant internal conflict within the Treasury Department, with sources stating that David Lebryk, the official in charge of the system at the time, was placed on administrative leave after he opposed granting Musk and his team access. Last week, Lebryk informed his colleagues that he would be retiring, sources revealed to ABC News.
If Musk or his team sought to interfere with the payments, they would likely face legal challenges, as the funds are approved by Congress. Furthermore, if Musk’s team were to propose modifications to the system, those changes would be subjected to a thorough review by Treasury officials.
In response, Senator Ron Wyden, the senior Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, expressed concerns in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He warned that any “politically-motivated interference” in these vital payment systems could have catastrophic consequences for both the country and the economy. Wyden also raised alarms following the recent freeze on federal grants and loans, suggesting that Musk’s team may be attempting to block payments to critical programs.
Wyden emphasized his worries, writing, “These payment systems must not fail, and any politically-driven interference poses serious risks to our national well-being. I am particularly concerned that officials linked to Musk may be planning to misuse their access to delay or withhold payments for political purposes.”
He further criticized the actions of Musk’s representatives, stating, “I see no justification for allowing political actors, who have shown a disregard for the law, to access such critical and sensitive systems.”
Representatives from DOGE, the White House, and the Treasury Department have not responded to requests for comment.
