In a recent report, a senior official within the U.S. Treasury has raised alarms about the potential dangers of allowing a new government department, led by Elon Musk, access to sensitive Treasury payment systems. This access, according to the official, could place American spies working abroad at serious risk.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Its Role
Following President Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017, a new department was created called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with Elon Musk, the tech billionaire behind companies like Tesla and SpaceX, taking charge. DOGE’s mission was to find ways to cut waste in federal spending and improve how taxpayer dollars are used.
On January 31, 2025, the Treasury Department, which manages the flow of trillions of dollars, including payments like Social Security checks and tax refunds, allowed two DOGE employees to access a payment system that tracks such transactions. However, this access was limited and read-only, meaning the DOGE staffers could view the data but not change it. The employees involved, Tom Krause and Marko Elez, are both affiliated with DOGE.
Despite the restricted nature of the access, a high-ranking official at the Treasury raised significant concerns. The official feared that the information available through this system could potentially expose the identities of American spies stationed in foreign countries. These spies rely on secret payments to carry out their work, and exposing them could put their lives and missions in jeopardy.
A Growing Security Threat
In a memo to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the official warned that even the limited “read-only” access granted to DOGE posed an “unprecedented insider threat risk.” The concern is that sensitive payment data could be traced back to intelligence agents working abroad, thus revealing their identities and possibly endangering their lives.
The Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service is in charge of handling payments to the Department of Defense contractors and human intelligence sources, such as spies. While efforts are made to disguise these payments, the worry is that people with enough knowledge and access could still identify these agents. The risk is especially high if those people have the ability to dig into records linked to these transactions.
The memo from the Treasury official included suggestions to reduce the risks, such as suspending the DOGE team’s access to the payment system and conducting a thorough review of all their actions within the system. These ideas were approved by Secretary Bessent, which shows the seriousness of the concerns raised.
The Court Case and Growing Tensions
A key moment came on February 9, when a federal judge issued a temporary order stopping DOGE from accessing sensitive Treasury payment records. This includes information like bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, and personal details of millions of Americans. The judge’s decision came after a legal challenge was raised by two unions and an advocacy group.
This court ruling is temporary, and a hearing to discuss the legality of DOGE’s access to Treasury records is set for February 14, 2025. This hearing will likely decide whether the restrictions on DOGE’s access to payment systems should remain or if they should be lifted.
The concerns about American spies being exposed by the payment system have added fuel to the growing debate about the role of DOGE in federal affairs. Many critics argue that the Treasury official’s warning about spies may be an excuse for bureaucrats to limit DOGE’s ability to scrutinize government spending. These critics often refer to the established parts of the federal government as the “deep state,” suggesting that they may be using security concerns as a way to avoid external oversight of their work.
In contrast, those in favor of the Department of Government Efficiency argue that the department is simply doing its job of cutting waste and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely. They see the pushback from certain government officials as a way to protect the status quo, with no real concern for national security.
Public Outcry Over Sensitive Data
Public figures have also weighed in on the situation. One former government official emphasized the importance of keeping the inner workings of the Treasury’s payment systems secret, especially when it comes to intelligence operations. “Our adversaries would love to get to the headwaters of the money flows so that they can try to trace out who is receiving payments,” they said.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries voiced concerns about why Musk’s team would need access to such sensitive personal information. “Why do Elon Musk and his team need access to the names, Social Security numbers, addresses, birthdates, and bank account information of millions of Americans?” he asked. Jeffries questioned the reasoning behind giving the DOGE team such extensive access to private data, emphasizing the potential risks to both American citizens and national security.
The situation is delicate. While security is a key concern, critics argue that limiting access to the payment systems might not be about safety but about protecting the inner workings of the government from outside scrutiny. The upcoming court hearing will likely play a crucial role in deciding how much control the Treasury has over its payment systems and what level of transparency should be allowed.
With legal challenges still underway and the future of DOGE’s access to sensitive Treasury information uncertain, the stakes are high, and many are watching closely to see how the situation develops.
