The Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS), a relatively obscure division of the U.S. Treasury Department, is responsible for overseeing critical financial systems, including Social Security payments and tax returns. Yet, according to sources, a 25-year-old engineer connected to Elon Musk holds significant administrative privileges over key systems that manage some of the largest financial flows in the U.S.
Marko Elez, a young engineer with a background in Musk’s ventures, is said to have direct access to highly sensitive Treasury Department systems. These systems, known as the Payment Automation Manager and Secure Payment System, are central to the U.S. government’s operations, handling payments that represent a significant portion of the nation’s economy.
While other reports suggest that Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) team has limited access to these systems on a read-only basis, sources reveal that Elez, who has visited the BFS facilities, enjoys far more expansive privileges. This includes the ability to not only view, but also modify the underlying code, which could grant him extensive control over government financial operations. In fact, such administrative access allows users to manipulate server systems, alter files, and even bypass security protocols, raising concerns about the potential for unauthorized changes to these vital systems.
“This kind of access is deeply concerning,” said a source familiar with the infrastructure, explaining that such privileges could lead to severe consequences if misused. “It seems unlikely that someone would need this level of access just to investigate fraud or review payment flows.”
Federal IT experts expressed unease over the situation, with one worker remarking, “Just a week ago, I would have said something like this was impossible. Now, though, who knows what’s going on behind the scenes?”
TPM also reports, “I can independently confirm these details based on conversations going back to the weekend. I can further report that Elez not only has full access to these systems, he has already made extensive changes to the code base for these critical payment systems.”
There are concerns that this elevated access might be used to gather sensitive data for other agencies. Some have pointed to the involvement of Musk’s associates—young, inexperienced engineers and former Tesla employees—who have recently infiltrated the General Services Administration (GSA). This group, including individuals like Nicole Hollander and Thomas Shedd, has allegedly tried to use White House credentials to gain unauthorized access to GSA systems, creating significant security risks.
Elez, who graduated from Rutgers University in 2021, previously worked at SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace company, focusing on software related to spacecraft and satellites. He later joined X, the social media platform, working on search algorithms and AI. Publicly available software development records show his expertise in machine learning and distributed systems, but he lacks any formal experience with government work.
