Elon Musk's DOGE Team Gains Access to US Government’s Payment System

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a newly formed advisory group under President Donald Trump’s administration, has been granted access to the US government's federal payment system, according to a report by The New York Times.

The purpose of this move is to monitor and potentially limit government spending, as part of Trump’s efforts to cut federal expenses. Musk and his team have been assigned the responsibility of identifying inefficiencies and ensuring that taxpayer money is spent wisely.

High-Level Treasury Official Resigns

The decision to grant access to Musk’s team has led to controversy. David Lebryk, a senior US Treasury Department official, has resigned after reportedly clashing with Musk’s allies regarding their request to access payment systems.

Reports suggest that Musk’s allies, who were granted access, have now become official Treasury employees, cleared background checks, and received security clearances. However, they do not yet have operational control, and no government payments have been blocked so far.

Musk’s Claims of Mismanagement in Government Payments

On Saturday, Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter), alleging that Treasury officials had been instructed to approve all payments, even those directed towards fraudulent entities and terrorist groups.

"They literally never denied a payment in their entire career. Not even once," Musk wrote, expressing concerns over lack of oversight in federal spending.

Trump and Musk Aim for $2 Trillion in Savings

President Trump and Musk have claimed that cutting unnecessary expenses could potentially save $2 trillion from the federal budget. Their goal is to reduce the size of the US government and eliminate wasteful spending.

Initially, billionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was also expected to co-lead the DOGE team alongside Musk. However, he has stepped away from the role to focus on his campaign for Governor of Ohio.

Since taking office on January 20, 2025, Trump has fired or sidelined hundreds of civil servants in a bid to streamline government operations.

Concerns Over Data Security and Access to Federal Systems

In another development, Musk’s aides overseeing the US government’s human resources agency have been accused of restricting access to federal employees.

According to Reuters, senior career employees at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) have had their access revoked from sensitive government databases.

The affected systems reportedly include Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI), which contains:

• Dates of birth
• Social Security numbers
• Home addresses
• Employee performance records
• Salary details

Federal employees have expressed concerns over cybersecurity risks, as there is currently no oversight on how Musk’s team is handling the data.

"We have no visibility into what they are doing with the computer and data systems," said one concerned official. "That is creating great concern. There is no oversight. It creates real cybersecurity and hacking implications."

What’s Next?

The growing influence of Elon Musk’s DOGE team in US government operations is expected to spark further debate over transparency and accountability.

While some believe that Musk’s involvement will bring efficiency, others warn that lack of government oversight could pose security risks.

With Trump’s administration focused on cutting government spending, the coming weeks may see more policy shifts and structural changes in federal financial management.