(MENAFN) Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly been granted full access to the US Treasury Department’s payment system, which manages over $6 trillion in federal payments annually. This marks a significant shift as historically, access to this sensitive system has been reserved for a select group of career civil servants. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent authorized DOGE representatives, including Tom Krause, CEO of Cloud Software Group, to access the system, which handles payments like Social Security benefits, Medicare, and tax refunds.

The move comes after David Lebryk, the acting Treasury secretary, retired following his resistance to Musk’s request for access. Musk has claimed that his team discovered that payment approval officers at the Treasury were instructed to approve payments even to groups flagged as fraudulent or linked to terrorism. The Department of Government Efficiency, which Musk heads, aims to reduce government waste and lower the federal deficit, with Musk targeting at least a $1 trillion reduction.

However, the decision to grant DOGE access has sparked concern from lawmakers, including Senator Ron Wyden, who expressed worries over potential political interference. Musk has responded, saying that the aim is to cut wasteful spending, and dismissed opposition as coming from individuals benefiting from the system’s inefficiencies.

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