Elon Musk’s Team Now Has Full Access to Treasury’s Payments System - …

The New York Times article reports that Elon Musk’s team now has full access to the U.S. Treasury’s federal payments system, a move that gives them the ability to monitor and potentially limit government spending. This access was granted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a group Musk leads under Trump’s directive to cut federal spending.

A career Treasury official, David Lebryk, opposed the move and was put on leave before suddenly retiring, raising concerns about the administration’s control over the payment system, which processes over $5 trillion annually for programs like Social Security, Medicare, tax refunds, and government contracts.

Democrats, including Senator Ron Wyden, have criticized the decision, warning of potential political interference and conflicts of interest, especially since Musk’s companies receive federal funds. Musk has publicly criticized Treasury’s handling of payments and suggested more should be flagged as fraudulent or improper.

This development could give the Trump administration a new tool to restrict or delay government payments, bypassing Congress, which has previously blocked similar efforts. It also raises questions about the influence of private individuals like Musk over federal financial operations.

Where are the checks and balances?