Home » Home » DOGE UPDATE: Musk Reports Treasury Officers Knowingly Approved Fraudulent Payments, Including to Terrorist Groups

DOGE UPDATE: Musk Reports Treasury Officers Knowingly Approved Fraudulent Payments, Including to Terrorist Groups

By  //  February 2, 2025

DOGE now has access to federal payment system

Space and tech mogul Elon Musk criticized what he called “fraudulent” Treasury payments on Saturday amid reports that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gained access to the federal government’s payment system.

Trump formally established DOGE through an executive order signed on his first day in office, mandating that agency leaders provide DOGE with access to government platforms, software, and IT systems.

WASHINGTON, DC – Space and tech mogul Elon Musk criticized what he called “fraudulent” Treasury payments on Saturday amid reports that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gained access to the federal government’s payment system.

The move comes as the second Trump administration works to reduce excessive government spending.

Since its launch last month, DOGE’s official X account has shared updates on its efforts to curb federal spending. Last week, the team announced it had eliminated over $1 billion in government expenses by dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and positions.

“The @DOGE team uncovered that Treasury payment approval officers were instructed to always approve payments, even those directed to known fraudulent or terrorist organizations. They never denied a single payment throughout their entire careers,” Musk, who chairs DOGE, posted on X early Saturday.

Shortly after Musk’s remarks, The New York Times reported that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had authorized DOGE personnel to access the payment system, which handles approximately $6 trillion annually in federal transactions.

Sen. Ron Wyden, the leading Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, also stated on social media that his office had been informed about DOGE’s access.

“Sources indicate that Treasury Secretary Bessent granted DOGE full access to the payment system,” Wyden posted on BlueSky, raising concerns that this includes Social Security and Medicare payments, grants, and funds directed to government contractors, including some competing with Musk’s businesses.

Reports about DOGE’s system access followed The Washington Post’s revelation that David A. Lebryk, the former acting director of the Treasury Department, had planned to leave after clashing with officials over DOGE’s involvement.

Lebryk had overseen Treasury operations between Trump’s inauguration on January 20 and Bessent’s confirmation on January 27.

On Friday, further reports suggested that personnel from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal agency responsible for human resources, were locked out of their computer systems by DOGE.

Musk commented on X that working on weekends gives a strategic advantage, claiming that bureaucratic opposition disappears for two days.

“Most of the bureaucracy doesn’t work on weekends, so it’s like the opposing team just walks off the field! Working weekends is a superpower,” he posted.

Trump formally established DOGE through an executive order signed on his first day in office, mandating that agency leaders provide DOGE with access to government platforms, software, and IT systems.

“Agency Heads shall take all necessary steps, in coordination with the USDS Administrator and to the maximum extent consistent with law, to ensure USDS has full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records, software systems, and IT systems. USDS shall adhere to rigorous data protection standards,” the executive order states.

Trump and Musk had previously hinted at DOGE’s creation during the campaign, pledging to root out inefficiencies and fraud within the government. While not an official government department, DOGE functions as a specialized team within the Trump administration.

“Many people don’t fully understand inflation. It results from excessive government spending because government checks never bounce. When the government spends significantly more than it collects, it increases the money supply. If that supply grows faster than goods and services, inflation follows,” Musk explained during their discussion.

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