Elon Musk’s government efficiency department, the Department of Government Efficiency (DGE), has gained access to sensitive data from the U.S. Treasury Department. As a result, the agency can now review information related to citizens’ social security and healthcare benefits, according to two anonymous sources cited by the Associated Press (AP).
This special task force was formed during the Trump administration to reduce government spending by cutting federal jobs, downsizing various government programs, and relaxing federal regulations. It is led by Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of Tesla and a key advisor to former President Donald Trump. The new access granted to DGE could allow it to exert significant control over taxpayers’ financial records.
The first report of DGE’s access to the federal payment system was published by The New York Times.
Concerns Over Data Access
Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, expressed concerns about DGE’s newly acquired powers in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Basent. Wyden fears that Musk’s team could use this access to block funding for certain government programs illegally.
Resignation of a Top Treasury Official
The news of DGE’s access emerged shortly after David Lebryk, the acting deputy treasury secretary, resigned voluntarily after nearly 30 years in public service. According to The Washington Post, Lebryk stepped down immediately after DGE requested access to Treasury’s sensitive data.
Musk’s Response
Following these reports, Musk commented on X (formerly Twitter) about Lebryk’s resignation. He claimed that Treasury officials were instructed to approve all payment requests, alleging that they never denied a payment—even in cases of fraud or terrorist activities. However, he provided no evidence to support this claim.
DGE’s Origins and Future Plans
DGE was founded as a joint initiative by Elon Musk and billionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. However, Ramaswamy later stepped down to focus on a potential gubernatorial run in Ohio. Through DGE, Musk and Ramaswamy aimed to cut billions from the federal budget and downsize the federal workforce.