1. Gaining Access: How Musk’s Team Seized Control of Treasury Systems
Unprecedented Access Granted: In late January 2025, newly confirmed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent quietly granted representatives of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) direct access to a highly sensitive Treasury payment system. This system—run by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service—manages over $6 trillion annually in federal disbursements, from Social Security and Medicare benefits to tax refunds, federal salaries, and contractor payments [1]. Normally, only a small group of apolitical career officials has any direct control over these networks, and it is extremely unusual for outsiders or political appointees to be granted such access [2].
Bypassing Safeguards and Oversight: To secure this access, Musk’s allies were fast-tracked into temporary Treasury jobs, rushed through background checks, and granted security clearances on Bessent’s orders. Pressured career lawyers approved the arrangement, even though it defied usual practice. A top Treasury official, David Lebryk, initially refused to allow Musk’s operatives near the system [3]. After a standoff, Lebryk was overruled and pushed out (see Section 2). With normal checks waived by Trump’s appointees, DOGE effectively bypassed the safeguards that protect these “mission-critical systems” from political manipulation [4].
Systems and Data Under Musk’s Control: Treasury databases now open to DOGE hold personal and financial data on nearly every American receiving federal payments [5]. This covers Social Security recipients, Medicare beneficiaries, veterans, federal retirees, and contractors, as well as taxpayers expecting refunds. Musk’s operatives can monitor or halt any disbursement from the Treasury. Observers warn this hands an unelected individual the ability to “monitor and potentially limit government spending” at will—an authority traditionally reserved for nonpartisan civil servants accountable to strict legal constraints [2].
Regulatory and Cybersecurity Workarounds: How DOGE obtained access has ignited major concerns. Standard cybersecurity measures, including multi-factor authentication and role-based access, were set aside by top-down orders. Career officials typically responsible for vetting this type of access were bypassed or forced to comply. An Office of Personnel Management insider stated Musk’s aides locked out career IT staff from certain federal databases, leaving “no visibility” into DOGE’s activities or data storage. “There is no oversight,” the insider cautioned, warning of grave “cybersecurity and hacking implications.” If Treasury data has been copied onto non-government devices, it could violate federal IT and privacy regulations. A Treasury official confirmed, “We have no idea where the data is going or how it’s stored now.” [1]
By capitalizing on Bessent’s authority, Musk’s task force assumed sweeping control of U.S. government finances. They inserted DOGE personnel at the heart of federal payment networks, dismantling institutional guardrails. Their intrusion has no precedent—or clear legal foundation—yet Musk’s team now governs the central infrastructure of federal finance [2][4].
2. Internal Resistance from Treasury Officials – and How They Were Sidelined
Career Officials Sound the Alarm: Within the Treasury Department, veteran civil servants strongly opposed DOGE’s infiltration of payment systems. David Lebryk, a 30-year Treasury veteran who served briefly as acting Secretary before Bessent’s confirmation, led the resistance. He branded DOGE’s incursion unsafe and improper, clashing with Musk’s supporters in Treasury. Multiple sources confirm Lebryk was put on administrative leave and abruptly announced his retirement on January 31, 2025 [2][1]. After decades of nonpartisan service, he was removed, signaling that anyone pushing back would be ousted. The Washington Post wrote that Musk’s “intensifying battle” against career officials demonstrates his determination to “wield sweeping control over the inner workings of the U.S. government.” [1]
Sidelining and Ousting Dissenters: Lebryk was hardly alone. A broader pattern of reassignment and removal swiftly ensued. Seasoned Treasury payment managers were moved aside or told to keep away from DOGE’s work. At the Office of Personnel Management, Musk’s aides shut career OPM personnel out of databases storing millions of federal employees’ records. “We have no visibility into what [Musk’s team] is doing,” one senior OPM official said, describing a blatant push to “assert authoritarian control” while sidelining domain experts [1].
Methods of Pressure and Removal:
- Forced Leaves and Retirements: Like Lebryk, others were put on sudden leave and pushed to retire when labeled “insubordinate” or denied security clearances [2].
- Firings and Reassignments: Mid-level managers who objected were fired or replaced by Musk loyalists. A Treasury cybersecurity manager was dismissed for citing risks in granting DOGE high-level access.
- Isolation and Gag Orders: Remaining staff saw that voicing doubts could end careers. Internal orders demanded cooperation with DOGE and silence about internal disputes. Some dissenters were removed from key meetings and email discussions, warned they risked discipline for disobeying “lawful orders.” At USAID, top security officials were placed on leave for blocking DOGE from classified material they weren’t cleared to see [1].
“No One Elected Musk”: Growing Dissent: Anger mounts in Washington as it becomes clear that an unelected billionaire can oust career civil servants and commandeer federal systems. Former officials decry the loss of institutional memory—“They’re getting rid of people who know how things should work.” Lawmakers accuse Trump and Musk of conducting a “deep state purge” aimed at installing loyalists and squelching resistance.
3. Musk’s Stated Objectives vs. What Actually Transpired
Public Justifications: Modernization and Efficiency. The White House portrays the Treasury takeover as part of a modernization push to fix outdated systems, cut waste, and boost efficiency. Musk’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency was heralded as a tech-driven solution to “streamline government”. He claims the Treasury’s payment infrastructure is “antiquated,” with career officials rubber-stamping billions in improper payouts. By deploying his Silicon Valley savvy, Musk says DOGE can uncover massive fraud and stop wasteful spending [5]. According to Musk, DOGE’s Treasury access supports a “broader review” for modernization [2].
Behind Closed Doors: What Actually Happened. In reality, DOGE used coercive tactics to seize system control, with no comprehensive modernization plan presented. Almost immediately, Musk’s operatives began freezing specific disbursements aligned with political goals. Court documents suggest DOGE tried halting certain grants and contracts, citing “fraud” as a reason. One leaked incident shows them briefly freezing a payment to a refugee resettlement nonprofit, Lutheran Family Services, on dubious grounds [5]. Meanwhile, DOGE extracted crucial Treasury data onto external servers, purportedly for “independent analytics,” but with no transparency or compliance with standard data protections. OPM officials say career staff have no insight into DOGE’s analytic methods, fueling data security concerns.
Conflicts of Interest and Questionable Motives: Many see a blatant political and personal agenda. Senator Ron Wyden worries Musk’s vantage point will let him target rival contractors to favor SpaceX or Tesla [4]. Disclosed items suggest DOGE is most interested in programs disfavored by the far-right—immigration services, climate research, and social benefits—further hinting at political motives. Wyden contends DOGE personnel “may have intended to withhold payments” to programs that clash with Trump’s directives [5]. No meaningful “fraud busts” have emerged to validate Musk’s claims about rampant wrongdoing. Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich commented that “an unelected billionaire” now wields extraordinary authority over Americans’ personal data—“What could go wrong?” [5]
4. Impact on Federal Financial Security and Legal Concerns Raised
National Security Risks and Lack of Clearance: An unelected, foreign-born figure now exerts massive power over U.S. financial systems. Elon Musk—South African by birth, later a naturalized U.S. citizen—occupies no confirmed government post yet controls Treasury’s payment infrastructure. This raises grave national security worries. He was reportedly denied a high-level clearance in the past due to foreign entanglements. Senator Wyden highlighted Musk’s investments in China—where Tesla is heavily involved—and cautioned that Chinese intelligence aggressively hunts U.S. data. “Musk’s… ties to [China] endanger U.S. cybersecurity and create conflicts of interest,” Wyden said [4]. If DOGE personnel harbor divided loyalties, they could jeopardize sensitive data about millions of Americans. Attempts by career security officials to block Musk’s access were overridden, leaving “no credible oversight” [1].
Financial System Integrity and the “Full Faith and Credit”: Treasury’s payment system safeguards the nation’s promise to pay its obligations on time. Politicizing these disbursements can erode trust in U.S. finance. Senator Wyden warns that interfering with payments—like even briefly delaying Social Security checks—could spark a catastrophic crisis. With the government at its debt limit, a mishandled or intentionally blocked payment threatens the full faith and credit of the United States [4].
Legal and Constitutional Questions: Congress appropriates funds, and the executive branch must spend them as directed. If Musk’s group, lacking any statutory authority, arbitrarily withholds or redirects Congress-approved funds, that likely violates the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Wyden explicitly warned DOGE might “illegally withhold payments” based on Trump’s agenda [5]. Providing an unelected outsider with personal and financial data contravenes the Privacy Act, which bars unauthorized disclosures. Moreover, Musk’s corporate ties raise serious conflict of interest issues, since he can profit from insights about rival government contractors. Under normal ethics rules, officials must recuse themselves from matters involving their business interests, but Musk is unbound by these constraints—there is no standard channel to hold him accountable.
Accountability Vacuum: Musk’s standing is unprecedented. He’s neither elected nor confirmed, and not subject to typical congressional oversight. Treasury Secretary Bessent can deny direct culpability, claiming top-down orders; Trump can blame DOGE or Musk personally. Musk, meanwhile, is neither an elected official subject to impeachment nor a typical federal employee. Lawmakers like Senator Elizabeth Warren argue this arrangement ignores transparency laws and might breach anti-deficiency statutes. Proposed congressional actions aim to bar non-government individuals from overseeing critical financial systems. As a former Treasury enforcement official put it: “We’re navigating uncharted waters.”
5. Broader Implications: Musk’s Role in a Radical Administration Agenda
Musk’s commandeering of Treasury marks a bold move by the Trump administration to consolidate power and reshape government under “Trump 2.0.” By granting Musk broad authority, the White House merges private influence with public office, extending his reach into immigration, civil service, and beyond.
Authoritarian Undercurrents: Musk’s rise reflects a deliberate weakening of institutional checks and demands for absolute loyalty. He wields “czar-like” influence, surpassing many Cabinet officials. Political analysts compare it to autocratic regimes where handpicked magnates back the strongman. The oddly named “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)” once seemed like a gimmick, but it has become a powerful vehicle for power concentration [2]. From the administration’s start, Musk’s insiders landed in OPM (federal HR) and GSA (federal property management), controlling hiring, firing, and procurement. This network runs parallel to the standard civil service, loyal chiefly to Trump and Musk.
Executive Overreach – Immigrants to Guantánamo Bay: The Treasury incursion parallels other drastic Trump 2.0 measures, like the executive order sending 30,000 noncitizens to Guantánamo Bay [6]. Critics call this a violation of due process and a humanitarian crisis in the making. Musk has endorsed severe immigration constraints, lauding “any available tool” to deter unlawful entry. Both the Guantánamo policy and Musk’s influence over the Treasury reveal the administration’s hardline, authoritarian direction.
Inauguration Optics – Musk’s Nazi Salute Controversy: Musk’s influence was evident at Trump’s 2025 inauguration, where he ignited scandal by delivering a Nazi-style salute—arm extended rigidly, palm downward—twice toward the crowd [7]. Global backlash was swift, but Musk dismissed it as “tired… ‘everyone is Hitler’ attacks,” insisting he was merely showing enthusiasm [7]. Yet the footage spoke volumes: a triumphant Musk, gesturing in a style chillingly reminiscent of authoritarian pageantry, symbolized the administration’s new era.
Purging “Political Enemies” and Loyalty Enforcement: Musk’s role in DOGE also serves the larger purge of officials labeled disloyal. Trump vowed to “drain the swamp,” and agencies under DOGE scrutiny have seen career staff sacked or forced out. At the Department of Energy, top climate experts were told their roles would be eliminated. Similar accounts emerge from the State Department and EPA. Observers call it punishment for anyone who might impede the administration’s agenda, with Musk overseeing many of these decisions.
Consolidation of Power over Financial Infrastructure: Musk’s authority over Treasury, coupled with DOGE’s takeover of OPM and GSA, has centralized control of money, personnel, and assets. A newly issued directive, based on Musk’s recommendation, demanded the GSA slash its budget by 50%, rattling top officials [1]. As DOGE selectively denies or expedites funding, it shapes government priorities—like speeding up border projects while stalling disfavored programs. This sidesteps constitutional checks that typically guard the federal purse.
Expert Warnings and Historical Context: Legal scholars and former officials liken this to “a coup in all but name” [5], pointing to Musk’s extra-legal grab for Treasury oversight. From Guantánamo detainees to the Nazi salute fiasco, the administration shows little regard for conventional norms. Congressional committees are gearing up for investigations, while watchdog groups file lawsuits alleging breaches of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and other statutes. Still, Musk rallies his huge social media base to defend his “disruption” campaign, targeting critics with mockery or worse. As the U.S. faces intense legal battles and Senate hearings, Musk’s role crystallizes the administration’s intent: override traditional institutions to cement an authoritarian grip on power. Indeed, the question is whether the nation’s democratic guardrails can withstand this unprecedented stress.
References
- Common Dreams – Musk’s aides locked out career staff, internal power struggles, GSA budget cuts, “No one elected Musk.”
- Outside the Beltway – “DOGE now runs Treasury and OPM,” unprecedented appointee power, “sheer evil genius.”
- Finance.Senate.gov – Sen. Ron Wyden’s letter demanding answers about Musk personnel accessing highly sensitive U.S. Treasury payment systems.
- Common Dreams – Musk’s team obtains Treasury payment access, risk of stalling payments to government contractors, “no good reason” for political intrusion.
- SFL Media – “Unelected Elon Musk and a Tesla employee have access to federal payment systems,” Musk claims to root out fraud.
- Politico – Trump’s executive order on using Guantánamo Bay for large-scale immigrant detention.
- Economic Times – Coverage of Elon Musk’s apparent Nazi salute at Trump’s 2025 inauguration festivities.