WASHINGTON — A group of Democratic lawmakers is calling for an investigation by the Treasury Department into how Elon Musk’s team was granted access to the government’s payment system. They express concerns over potential threats to the economy and national security, as well as possible violations related to the privacy and tax information of Americans.
On Friday, the lawmakers sent letters to the deputy inspector general of the Treasury and the acting inspector general for tax administration. They also reached out to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent through Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. The letters emphasized worries about the lack of transparency and accountability regarding Musk’s team’s access to vital elements of the federal financial system.
The payment system in question manages trillions of dollars annually, which encompasses tax refunds, Social Security payments, and various other financial transactions. This raises questions about the legality of the review initiated by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Senators Warren and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., who were the main authors of the inspectors general’s letter, have repeatedly expressed alarm at a review process that is largely hidden from public view. Their appeal comes amid Democrats’ attempts to counteract spending cuts proposed by President Donald Trump, which could lead to a significant political clash. Any disruption in this payment system could jeopardize timely disbursements to individuals and even risk the inadvertent exposure of private data.
In her letter to Secretary Bessent, Warren accused the secretary of evading crucial questions and suggested that some of the information provided appears to contradict recent public reports. “The American people—especially those anxious about their Social Security, Medicare, local programs, and overall economic security—deserve straightforward answers,” Warren emphasized.
Typically, a call for an investigation would be directed to the Treasury inspector general; however, President Trump’s recent dismissal of approximately 17 independent inspectors general has created a significant oversight gap.
The Treasury Department has asserted that the review’s purpose is solely to evaluate the integrity of the payment system and insists that no modifications will take place. However, insiders revealed that Musk’s team initially sought to explore ways to suspend funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, a program both Musk and Trump are looking to shut down.
In a related development, labor unions and advocacy groups have filed lawsuits to prevent the progression of the payment system review based on legal concerns. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly has since limited DOGE’s access to the Treasury’s payment systems, allowing only two employees to review the information, one of whom is Tom Krause, now listed on the Treasury Department’s website as a fiscal assistant secretary.
The letters were also endorsed by Democratic Senators Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Raphael Warnock of Georgia, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.
