Tech magnate Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has brought to light potentially fraudulent Treasury payment practices. Musk alleges that payment approval officers consistently greenlit payments, even to suspect entities, raising serious concerns about oversight. This revelation coincided with reports of DOGE gaining access to the federal government's extensive payment system, responsible for disbursing approximately $6 trillion annually.
The New York Times and Oregon Senator Ron Wyden confirmed DOGE's access, with Wyden expressing concern over the breadth of access, encompassing Social Security, Medicare, grants, and payments to government contractors, some of which are direct competitors of Musk's businesses. This development follows reports of a clash with former acting Treasury director David A. Lebryk, who reportedly opposed granting DOGE access.
Further reports indicate that DOGE's actions extended to locking civil servants within the Office of Personnel Management out of their computer systems. Musk, seemingly unfazed, commented on the advantage of weekend work, implying a lack of bureaucratic presence during those times.
DOGE, established by a presidential executive order on Trump's first day in office, is tasked with identifying and eliminating government overspending and fraud. The executive order mandates that government agencies provide DOGE with access to internal systems while adhering to strict data protection protocols. This initiative aligns with Musk and Trump's campaign promises to address government inefficiency and inflation, a topic discussed during an interview between Musk and then-candidate Trump.
DOGE has already reported over $1 billion in savings through cuts to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Fox News Digital's requests for comment from the White House and Treasury Department remain unanswered.
