Lawmakers demand answers as Musk's DOGE accesses Treasury payment systems

Following the swearing-in of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, concerns have arisen over Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) gaining access to the federal payments system, which handles sensitive information related to Social Security and Medicare. Senator Elizabeth Warren has called this access 'extraordinarily dangerous,' highlighting the risk of political favoritism and potential disruptions to crucial government services. Warren's letter, along with similar sentiments from Senator Ron Wyden, outlines fears that Musk could unilaterally impact federal payments and programs, raising alarms about the integrity of the financial system. The situation escalated with the resignation of Treasury's acting Deputy Secretary David Lebryk, reportedly due to conflicts regarding DOGE's access to sensitive data. Lawmakers are demanding clarity on the measures in place to safeguard Americans' private information and the operational integrity of the Treasury. Overall, the incident has sparked a significant political backlash, with calls for accountability regarding the handling of taxpayer data.