Elon Musk's DOGE gains access to Treasury payment systems, sparks bureaucratic clash and resignation

By bellecarter // 2025-02-03

Copy

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gained access to the Department of the Treasury's payment systems, handling over $6 trillion annually, leading to the resignation of the department's highest-ranking career official, David A. Lebryk.
The move has sparked controversy over unchecked government spending, including payments to fraudulent or terrorist-linked entities, raising questions about the balance of power between political appointees and long-standing bureaucrats.
DOGE's initial audit of the Treasury's payment systems revealed systemic issues, such as payment approval officers being instructed to approve all payments, even to known fraudulent or terrorist groups.
The resignation of Lebryk marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle between the Trump administration and the "deep state," with critics accusing DOGE of bypassing traditional bureaucratic channels and sidelining career officials.
Since its creation, DOGE has expanded its influence by replacing the U.S. Digital Service and eliminating over $1 billion in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, but its aggressive tactics have also drawn criticism for potentially undermining the stability and expertise of federal agencies.

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gained access to the Department of the Treasury's payment systems, triggering the resignation of the department's highest-ranking career official. The move has ignited a firestorm over allegations of unchecked government spending, including payments to fraudulent or terrorist-linked entities, and raised questions about the balance of power between political appointees and long-standing bureaucrats. The clash, which unfolded over the past week, centers on DOGE's push to audit and overhaul the Treasury's payment systems, which disburse more than $6 trillion annually for programs like Social Security, Medicare, federal salaries and government contracts. According to Musk, DOGE's initial findings revealed systemic issues, including payment approval officers who were allegedly instructed to approve all payments – even to known fraudulent or terrorist groups. "The @DOGE team discovered, among other things, that payment approval officers at Treasury were instructed always to approve payments, even to known fraudulent or terrorist groups," Musk tweeted early Saturday. "They literally never denied a payment in their entire career. Not even once." The controversy comes as the Trump administration enters its second week, with Musk and his allies seeking to exert unprecedented control over federal operations. (Related: Trump's DOGE saves $1 BILLION daily.) The resignation of David A. Lebryk, the Treasury's acting secretary and a decades-long career official, marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle between the Trump administration and what some have dubbed the "deep state." Lebryk, who served as acting secretary between President Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20 and the confirmation of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Jan. 27, reportedly clashed with DOGE surrogates over access to the Treasury's payment systems. According to the Washington Post, Lebryk announced his retirement in a Friday email to colleagues, citing disagreements with Musk's team. The report, based on anonymous sources, suggests that DOGE had been seeking access to the payment systems since the election, with requests intensifying after Trump's inauguration. The Treasury's payment systems, managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, are critical to the functioning of the federal government, handling everything from Social Security benefits to tax refunds. DOGE's access to these systems has raised concerns among lawmakers, including Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee. "Sources tell my office that Treasury Secretary Bessent has granted DOGE full access to this system. Social Security and Medicare benefits, grants and payments to government contractors, including those that compete directly with Musk's own companies. All of it," Wyden posted on BlueSky Saturday evening, Feb. 1.

DOGE's expanding influence

DOGE, created by an executive order signed by Trump on his first day in office, was conceived as a nongovernmental panel tasked with rooting out inefficiencies and overspending in federal operations. Since its inception, the team has replaced the U.S. Digital Service and has been granted sweeping access to government systems, including those at the Office of Personnel Management and the General Services Administration. Musk, who chairs DOGE, has long criticized government overspending and inflation, framing them as existential threats to the nation. During an August interview with Trump on X, Musk argued that unchecked government spending drives inflation by increasing the money supply faster than the rate of goods and services. "A lot of people just don't understand where inflation comes from. Inflation comes from government overspending because the checks never bounce when it's written by the government," Musk said. "So if the government spends far more than it brings in, that increases the money supply. If the money supply increases faster than the rate of goods and services, that's inflation." Since its creation, DOGE has touted its efforts to cut federal spending, including the elimination of more than $1 billion in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. However, its methods have drawn criticism for bypassing traditional bureaucratic channels and sidelining career officials. Over the weekend, Musk took to X to celebrate DOGE's progress, framing the team's weekend work as a strategic advantage. "Working the weekend is a superpower," he tweeted. "Very few in the bureaucracy actually work the weekend, so it's like the opposing team just leaves the field for two days!" The comment underscores the combative tone of DOGE's mission, which has positioned itself as a disruptor of entrenched bureaucratic practices. However, critics argue that the team's aggressive tactics risk undermining the stability and expertise of federal agencies. Head over to ElonMuskWatch.com for stories about the DOGE head. Watch the video below that talks about DOGE being sued just after Trump was sworn in. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.

NATURAL NEWS

DOGE's expanding influence

More related stories:

Sources include: