Democratic lawmakers are protesting Elon Musk’s involvement in the U.S. Treasury Department, calling his access to federal payment systems a major threat. The controversy began after Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was given read-only access to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, which distributes trillions of dollars in payments, including Social Security and federal salaries.
During a rally organized by progressive groups, Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., passionately opposed Musk’s influence.
“Anytime a person can pay $250 million into a campaign and then be given full access to the Treasury Department, we are at war,” she declared.
Over the weekend, Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter), alleging that Treasury officials had been approving payments without proper checks, even to fraudulent or terrorist-linked entities. His claims fueled concerns among Republicans about government spending but also alarmed
Democrats about his level of control.
President Donald Trump responded to the controversy, stating that Musk does not have full authority over Treasury operations. “Elon can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval,” Trump reassured. However, his comments did little to calm Democratic fears of financial mismanagement.
Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., questioned whether Musk truly has only “viewing access” to the system, arguing that even read-only privileges pose risks. Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost, D-Fla., went further, warning that Musk’s influence could lead to mismanagement of taxpayer funds.
Despite White House assurances, Democratic lawmakers remain skeptical. They argue that billionaires should not be involved in federal financial systems and are pushing for increased oversight to protect taxpayer money. The debate highlights the growing political divide over the role of private individuals in government operations.
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