The Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Senator Elizabeth Warren, together with Senator Ron Wyden and other Senate Democrats, published letters urging Treasury’s inspectors general to open an independent investigation into reports that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent granted Elon Musk and affiliates associated with “DOGE” access to federal payment systems. The lawmakers said Treasury’s public response to their earlier inquiries was incomplete and conflicted with publicly available information, and they asked the inspectors general to assess whether any laws, regulations, or policies were breached, including those governing conflicts of interest and the confidentiality and handling of sensitive personal information. The senators said Treasury did not provide basic information on whether access was extended beyond Treasury employees, whether access was more than “read only” before public scrutiny, and what safeguards were in place. They also pointed to reporting that DOGE affiliates sought access so the Treasury could freeze U.S. Agency for International Development payments, which they said contradicted Treasury’s characterization that access was focused on a review to “maximize payment integrity.” The letters highlighted that the payment systems contain individuals’ personal and financial information, confidential government contract payment information, and nonpublic operational details, and noted potential conflicts given that Tesla and SpaceX have received more than USD 15.4 billion in government funds over the past decade and that X has announced plans to work with Visa on a new payments system. The request asks the inspectors general to independently assess the types of payment systems accessed, the information in those systems, steps taken to protect sensitive information, whether the White House pressured Treasury officials, and the extent to which Secretary Bessent or others violated applicable laws, regulations, or policies.
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs 2025-02-07
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Democrats urge inspectors general to investigate reported DOGE access to Treasury payment systems
Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, and other Senate Democrats have requested an independent investigation into Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's alleged granting of federal payment system access to Elon Musk and DOGE affiliates. The inquiry seeks to determine if any laws or policies were breached, particularly regarding conflicts of interest and handling sensitive information. Concerns include potential misuse of access to freeze U.S. Agency for International Development payments and the involvement of Tesla and SpaceX, which have received significant government funding.