Elon Musk Granted 'Read-Only' Access to US Treasury’s Payments System

Elon Musk’s government reform team, part of the federal cost-cutting initiative under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been granted "read-only" access to the U.S. Treasury's highly sensitive payment system. This system handles the flow of trillions of dollars for services like Social Security, Medicare, and federal salaries.

The approval for this access was personally granted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. While Musk's team, led by IT executive Tom Krause, is allowed to review the payment data, they cannot make any alterations to it. The Treasury Department confirmed that this type of "read-only" access is similar to the access granted to auditors and others who review Treasury systems.

Controversy and Concerns

The decision has raised concerns among Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden, who have called for an investigation into the approval process. The lawmakers are alarmed by Musk's involvement in federal data, especially in light of his previous controversial moves to slash federal spending. In a letter to the congressional watchdog agency, they demanded a probe into how Musk's team was granted this access.

Additionally, labor unions and a grassroots advocacy group have filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of Musk’s team accessing sensitive taxpayer information. The lawsuit argues that it is unlawful for Musk or others in DOGE to be allowed access to such data and seeks to block the Treasury Department from facilitating this.

Musk’s Stance

Musk defended his team’s access, stating in a post on X (the social media platform he owns) that reviewing payment flows and pausing suspicious transactions for review is necessary to combat fraud and waste in taxpayer spending. He emphasized that this transparency is key to ensuring efficiency and preventing misuse of public funds.

The move to give Musk’s reform team access to the payment system was made possible after a Treasury official who opposed the decision was placed on administrative leave and eventually retired, according to a lawsuit filed by critics of the initiative.

The controversy surrounding this issue reflects the increasing scrutiny of Musk’s role in government reforms, especially as his efforts to cut costs continue to generate legal and ethical concerns. The debate is likely to intensify as Musk’s reform initiatives evolve, with growing opposition from various political and advocacy groups.