Musk-Led Government Task Force Gains Access to Treasury Data

Musk-Led Government Task Force Gains Access to Treasury Data \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has gained access to sensitive Treasury payment systems, including Social Security and Medicare data. The move has sparked concerns in Congress, with Sen. Ron Wyden warning of potential political interference. The resignation of Treasury’s acting Deputy Secretary David Lebryk has further heightened tensions. Musk defended DOGE’s actions but provided no proof for his claims about Treasury mismanagement.

Musk’s DOGE Task Force Accesses Treasury Data: Quick Looks

• DOGE Gains Treasury Access: Elon Musk’s government task force now has access to Social Security, Medicare, and other federal payment systems.
• Congress Raises Concerns: Sen. Ron Wyden warned of potential political interference in government payments and called for urgent oversight.
• Treasury Official Resigns: Acting Deputy Secretary David Lebryk abruptly stepped down after DOGE requested access to sensitive payment data.
• Musk Defends DOGE: Musk claimed Treasury approved payments to fraudulent groups, but provided no evidence to support the allegation.
• Potential Legal Battle: Lawmakers and watchdogs may investigate DOGE’s role, as concerns grow over cuts or delays to federal assistance programs.

Deep Look

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a controversial task force created by President Donald Trump and led by billionaire Elon Musk, has gained unprecedented access to sensitive U.S. Treasury payment systems, including those handling Social Security and Medicare transactions.

This revelation, first reported by The New York Times, has triggered immediate concerns from lawmakers and government officials, as DOGE’s mission includes cutting government spending, firing federal employees, and eliminating regulations.

Treasury’s acting Deputy Secretary David Lebryk abruptly resigned, reportedly after DOGE requested access to federal payment data. Congressional Democrats are warning that Musk’s task force could politically manipulate government benefits or illegally withhold payments to certain programs.

As Musk’s influence in Washington grows, the future of key federal programs and economic stability is now at the center of a heated political and legal battle.

DOGE’s Access to Treasury: What’s at Stake?

According to two anonymous officials who spoke to The Associated Press, DOGE’s access to Treasury’s payment approval systems gives it visibility into:

• Social Security and Medicare transactions
• Federal employee payroll systems
• Taxpayer refunds and IRS payments
• Emergency and disaster relief funds

While DOGE’s official mandate is to streamline government efficiency, critics fear its access could lead to:

• Delays or disruptions in critical payments
• Cuts to federal assistance programs
• Targeting of specific agencies or recipients for budget reductions

Given DOGE’s track record of aggressive cost-cutting, lawmakers and watchdog groups worry that Social Security, Medicare, and other essential programs could be in Musk’s crosshairs.

Treasury Official Resigns Amid Controversy

Treasury’s acting Deputy Secretary David Lebryk, who had served in the department for over 30 years, resigned shortly after DOGE’s request for Treasury data.

Lebryk’s resignation letter, obtained by The Washington Post, did not mention DOGE directly but emphasized the critical role of Treasury’s Fiscal Service in maintaining economic stability.

“Our work may be unknown to most of the public, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t exceptionally important,” Lebryk wrote.

While Trump administration officials claim Lebryk’s departure was planned, insiders suggest he stepped down due to ethical concerns over DOGE’s actions.

Musk’s Justification and Unverified Claims

Musk responded to the controversy in a post on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that DOGE had uncovered systemic failures in Treasury’s payment processes.

“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. Not even once.”

Musk provided no evidence to support this claim, and Treasury officials have not confirmed or denied the accusation.

Sen. Ron Wyden Warns of “Unprecedented Threat” to Government Payments

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, issued a strongly worded letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday, warning of potential political interference in government payments.

“To put it bluntly, these payment systems simply cannot fail, and any politically motivated meddling in them risks severe damage to our country and the economy,” Wyden wrote.

Wyden raised concerns that Musk’s team may have intended to withhold payments from certain programs, effectively manipulating federal spending for political purposes.

DOGE’s Origins and Ramaswamy’s Exit

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was established as a Trump administration initiative aimed at reducing the size of the federal government.

Musk initially co-led DOGE alongside former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who had championed mass layoffs of federal employees and budget cuts across key agencies.

However, Ramaswamy left DOGE in January to explore a gubernatorial run in Ohio, leaving Musk as the sole leader of the organization.

With Musk now in full control, DOGE has escalated its efforts, pushing aggressively for:

• Eliminating thousands of government jobs
• Deregulating industries
• Cutting funding for federal programs

The access to Treasury payment systems represents DOGE’s most significant expansion of power yet.

Could DOGE Withhold or Modify Government Payments?

While DOGE’s exact authority over payments remains unclear, there are concerns that Musk’s direct involvement in government spending decisions could:

• Influence which programs receive funding
• Delay or withhold Social Security and Medicare payments
• Redirect federal funds toward tax cuts or private-sector initiatives

Legal experts warn that any attempt to block payments without Congressional approval would likely be unconstitutional.

What’s Next for Musk’s Task Force and U.S. Treasury?

With Treasury data now in DOGE’s hands, government officials, lawmakers, and watchdog groups are closely monitoring the situation.

Key developments to watch:

• Will Congress intervene? Senate Democrats may push for an investigation into DOGE’s actions.
• How will Biden’s administration respond? Any attempt to undo DOGE’s access could spark legal battles with the Trump administration.
• Will Musk continue expanding DOGE’s reach? The billionaire’s growing influence over federal operations is already raising serious ethical and legal questions.

With billions of taxpayer dollars at stake, the fight over DOGE’s access to Treasury data is set to become one of the most high-profile political and economic clashes of Trump’s presidency.

Conclusion: A Power Struggle Over Government Payments

Musk’s growing control over federal spending has triggered widespread alarm in Washington.

With the resignation of a top Treasury official, accusations of potential payment manipulation, and no clear oversight over DOGE’s authority, the future of Social Security, Medicare, and other essential programs hangs in the balance.

Congress, federal agencies, and the American public will now have to decide:

• Will Musk’s “efficiency reforms” streamline government, or is DOGE a dangerous overreach into federal operations?
• Can lawmakers prevent political influence over critical payments, or will DOGE reshape government spending without accountability?

As the battle over federal payments intensifies, one thing is certain: Elon Musk’s role in Washington has never been more powerful—or more controversial.

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