The U.S. Treasury Department confirmed Tuesday that Elon Musk’s government reform team has been granted access to its highly sensitive payment system, though officials maintain the team cannot alter any data. The clarification comes after Democratic lawmakers raised alarms over the move and called for a formal investigation.

Musk, the world’s richest person, is leading President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting initiative under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As part of these efforts, Musk reportedly pushed for a team led by IT executive Tom Krause to gain access to the Treasury Department’s closely guarded payment system—a network handling trillions of dollars in transactions, including Social Security and Medicare payouts as well as federal salaries.

Democratic senators demand probe into treasury access

In response to the reports, Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden sent a letter Tuesday to the congressional watchdog agency, urging an investigation into Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s role in personally granting Musk and his aides permission to access the system.

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The Treasury, in a letter sent to Congress and shared with AFP, confirmed that Krause’s team had access to the system but stated it was “read-only access… in order to continue this operational efficiency assessment.” The agency emphasized that the permission was “similar to the kind of access that Treasury provides to individuals reviewing Treasury systems, such as auditors.”

Backlash against Musk’s cost-cutting efforts

Musk’s push to streamline federal spending has drawn intense opposition from Democratic lawmakers, who have cited legal and ethical concerns over his efforts to restructure government finances.

In a separate letter addressed to President Trump, other Democratic policymakers voiced concerns over DOGE’s access to government data and facilities. Labor unions and advocacy groups have also taken legal action, filing a lawsuit demanding a federal judge declare it unlawful for Musk or any DOGE officials to obtain personal taxpayer information. The lawsuit also seeks to block the Treasury Department from allowing such access.

Musk defends access, citing fraud prevention

Musk defended his team’s access to the payment system in a post on X, the social media platform he owns, stating, “The only way to stop fraud and waste of taxpayer money is to follow the payment flows and pause suspicious transactions for review.”

According to the lawsuit, Bessent approved Musk’s access after a career Treasury official refused to grant it. The official was subsequently placed on administrative leave and later retired.

As scrutiny intensifies, the controversy underscores the broader debate over the intersection of private sector influence and federal financial oversight, with lawmakers and advocacy groups questioning the legality and transparency of Musk’s role in government reform.