Associated Press
The Treasury Department’s Office of Inspector General on Friday said it was launching an audit of the security controls for the federal government’s payment system, after Democratic Senators raised red flags about the access provided to Trump aide Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team.
The audit will also review the past two years of the system’s transactions as it relates to Musk’s assertion of “alleged fraudulent payments,” according to a letter from Loren J. Sciurba, Treasury’s deputy inspector general, that was obtained by The Associated Press.
The audit marks part of the broader effort led by Democratic lawmakers and federal employee unions to provide transparency and accountability about DOGE’s activities under President Donald Trump’s Republican administration. The Musk team has pushed for access to the government’s computer systems and sought to remove tens of thousands of federal workers.
“We expect to begin our fieldwork immediately,” Sciburba wrote. “Given the breadth of this effort, the audit will likely not be completed until August; however, we recognize the danger that improper access or inadequate controls can pose to the integrity of sensitive payment systems. As such, if critical issues come to light before that time, we will issue interim updates and reports.”
Tech billionaire Musk, who continues to control Tesla, X and SpaceX among other companies, claims to be finding waste, fraud and abuse while providing savings to taxpayers, many of his claims so far unsubstantiated. But there is a risk that his team’s aggressive efforts could lead to the failure of government computer systems and enable Musk and his partners to profit off private information maintained by the government.
On Wednesday, Warren, Wyden and Democratic U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, of Rhode Island, sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noting the inconsistencies in the accounts provided by his Department about DOGE.
“Your lack of candor about these events is deeply troubling given the threats to the economy and the public from DOGE’s meddling, and you need to provide a clear, complete, and public accounting of who accessed the systems, what they were doing, and why they were doing it,” the Democratic lawmakers wrote in their letter.
The Treasury Department provided conflicting information about DOGE’s access to the payment system. Initially, it claimed the access was read only, only to then acknowledge that a DOGE team member briefly had the ability to edit code, and then to say in an employee sworn statement that the ability to edit was granted by accident.
The 25-year-old employee granted the access, Marko Elez, resigned this month after racist posts were discovered on one of his social media accounts, only for Musk to call for his rehiring with the backing of Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Advocacy groups and labor unions have filed lawsuits over DOGE’s potential unauthorized access to sensitive Treasury payment systems, and five former Treasury Secretaries have sounded the alarm on the risks associated with Musk’s DOGE accessing sensitive Treasury Department payment systems and potentially stopping congressionally authorized payments.
Earlier this week, the Treasury declined to brief a pair of the highest-ranking lawmakers on the Senate Finance Committee, including Wyden, on the ongoing controversy related to DOGE’s use of Treasury payment systems, citing ongoing litigation.
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Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
11 comments
Peachy
February 14, 2025 at 11:01 am
Swamp creatures trying to protect the swamp. How about looking into who that is collecting SSA benefits of a 150 year old? Just one example of FW&A.
Skeptic
February 14, 2025 at 12:53 pm
If it were true, it should be looked into. Given the source, it has a significant non-zero chance of being a fantasy (like so many other claims emanating from DOGE land).
Michael K
February 14, 2025 at 11:24 am
Musk, like the convicted felon he now owns, is a non-stop lie machine. His claims have no basis in fact. He no legal authority to wreak havoc on the federal government. No proof for his baseless claims, None.
Peachy
February 14, 2025 at 11:37 am
You don’t think there is fraud, waste and abuse in the Federal Government? How is that the head of USAid has a net worth of over 30 million on a $180k annual salary?
Skeptic
February 14, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Have you considered that not ALL people of means are criminals like POTUS and MUSKUS? Some people who are independently wealthy GIVE BACK through PUBLIC SERVICE (not griftus maximus).
Michael K
February 14, 2025 at 12:03 pm
Fun Fact: Inspector Generals are independent persons in federal agencies who investigate fraud and abuse. One of the first things Trump did was illegally remove dozens of IGs. A minimum thirty day notice to Congress is required.
Turns out Musk has received more than $13 billion in government contracts. His self-driving Tesla has been under investigation for the pesky little fact that people have died from self-driving Teslas. No wonder Musk wants to destroy federal regulations and investigations into illegal business practices.
In fact, when it was recently reported that the State Department is buying $400 million worth of Tesla Cybertrucks, that specific pesky detail was scrubbed.
Peachy
February 14, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Independent is in name only.
Skeptic
February 14, 2025 at 12:56 pm
Love the cynicism. What is the weather like up there?
PeterH
February 14, 2025 at 1:04 pm
Without exception, each federal government agency performs regular work and expenditure audits.
Trump and Musk have stated they have discovered billions of dollars in fraudulent expenditures. Since neither MAGA kook has a stellar reputation for telling the truth …… it’s time for them to PUT UP OR SHUT UP!
Peachy
February 14, 2025 at 1:34 pm
Would you call the USPS a model of efficiency? That place oozes FW&A. I had a package that i just received from that poorly run agency sit in a regional sort facility for seven days.
KathrynA
February 14, 2025 at 10:31 pm
Do any of you have personal knowledge of this and fraud and waste in an entire department can be detected in one day and not carefully investigated and determine how it affects everyone. This is horrifying and Congress should also, be investigating since they authorized these funds!!