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

Washington, D.C.: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisory group led by Elon Musk under President Donald Trump's administration, has gained access to the federal payment system, according to a report by The New York Times. The move aims to facilitate oversight and potential budgetary cuts in government spending.

The decision follows the resignation of David Lebryk, the highest-ranking career official at the US Treasury Department, after a reported conflict with Musk’s allies over access to financial systems. According to sources, Musk’s team members, now Treasury employees, have cleared background checks and obtained security clearances but are yet to exercise operational control over payments.

Revelations About Government Spending

Musk took to social media platform X on Saturday, alleging that Treasury payment officers had historically approved all payments, even to groups linked with fraud or terrorism.

"They literally never denied a payment in their entire career. Not even once," Musk posted.

His claims have raised concerns about financial oversight within federal agencies, particularly amid Trump’s broader efforts to streamline government operations. The administration has suggested that reducing unnecessary expenditures could save up to $2 trillion.

DOGE’s Growing Influence and Federal Downsizing

The DOGE initiative was initially set to be co-led by entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, but he opted to pursue a gubernatorial bid in Ohio. Since assuming office on January 20, President Trump has aggressively restructured federal departments, dismissing and sidelining numerous civil servants.

Musk's Team Restricting Access to Federal Data

In another controversial development, Reuters reported that Musk’s aides overseeing the US government’s human resources agency have revoked system access for career civil servants. The affected systems include the Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) database, which stores sensitive details such as Social Security numbers, salaries, and employment records of federal workers.

Concerns Over Data Security and Oversight

Two OPM officials disclosed that the sudden restrictions on system access have created significant concerns over transparency and cybersecurity risks.

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

With Musk’s growing influence within federal structures and the Trump administration’s ongoing bureaucratic overhaul, the extent of DOGE’s control over government spending and operations remains a critical issue to watch.