Elon Musk's DOGE Team Faces Backlash Over Treasury Access Allegations

Elon Musk's "DOGE team" is reportedly shutting down some payments to federal contractors, raising concerns about access to the Treasury Department's systems. Democratic lawmakers and watchdog groups argue that this may represent a significant privacy and security breach in American history.

Lindsay Owens, executive director of the Groundwork Collaborative, stated, "If we were watching this happen in Venezuela or Malawi, we would call it a coup." Musk, who is known for being the world's wealthiest person and an unpaid advisor to President Trump, has taken actions that provoke strong reactions from lawmakers.

Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., revealed in an exclusive interview that Musk allegedly sent young DOGE programmers to the Treasury, coercing civil servants to gain access to the government payment system. Reports indicate that tensions led to the ousting of David Lebryk, the top civil servant at the Treasury.

Wyden confirmed through whistleblowers that these DOGE operatives accessed sensitive Treasury data over the weekend, which includes personal information, bank accounts, Social Security numbers, and home addresses of hundreds of millions of Americans.

Musk defended the actions of his team, suggesting that Treasury officials had been approving fraudulent payments. He stated that the DOGE personnel discovered significant funding issues at the Treasury.

However, a Democratic staff official questioned Musk's understanding of the payment approval process, asserting that he should target the agencies actually spending the money to identify fraud.

Criticism intensified when Wyden characterized the situation as a dangerous breach threatening national security, with the "Musk hatchet brigade" gaining access to sensitive data. Concerns were raised over potential conflicts of interest regarding Musk's business interests in China and their impact on U.S. cybersecurity.

Senators are rallying for action against Musk's DOGE personnel at the Treasury, with proposals for legislation to stop their engagement in the payment systems. Both Wyden and Senator Elizabeth Warren sent urgent inquiries to Treasury officials, demanding clarity on the situation and the legality of the access granted to Musk's team.

As outrage grows, watchdog groups, including the Electronic Privacy Information Center, are preparing to pursue legal action against the DOGE team’s access to critical federal systems.

In a move pushing further for transparency, former Congressman Adam Kinzinger urged Congress members to investigate the situation directly at the Treasury.

Unions representing federal employees are also seeking to block DOGE's access, arguing that the breach significantly threatens individual privacy.