Musk gained control of the US federal payment system

The head of the US Treasury Department, Scott Bessent, provided the team of an American entrepreneur and the head of the Department of State Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk, with access to the federal payment system to monitor and limit government spending. This was reported on February 1 by The New York Times, citing sources.

"Bessent granted representatives of the so—called Department of Public Administration Efficiency full access to the federal payment system late on Friday, according to three people familiar with the changes, handing Musk and his team a powerful tool to monitor and potentially limit government spending," the publication says.

According to the interlocutors of the publication, DOGE employees gained access to a system that processes payment data worth more than $ 5 trillion per year. The agency already requires access to data from other departments, but control over payments by the US Treasury is a key tool. The system stores personal data of millions of citizens, which increases the danger of a conflict of interest, the article noted.

"It is unclear whether the team led by Musk, the richest man in the world, has blocked any payments since gaining access to the system," the newspaper added.

Trump announced the creation of a new department in November 2024. The Department of State Efficiency will not be a ministry in the structure of the US government, despite the name, it is a third-party commission. Trump explained that DOGE will provide external advice on cost reduction and work closely with White House officials responsible for the budget.