U.S. Treasury Grants Access to Payment System for Musk's Government Efficiency Office

According to Odaily, the U.S. Treasury Department has granted access to its payment system to Elon Musk's Government Efficiency Office (DOGE). This system annually distributes trillions of dollars in benefits, grants, and tax refunds to Americans, typically managed by career civil servants. Treasury Secretary Besant approved this move, which involves one of the primary financial channels of the U.S. government. Any disruption in its operation could lead to significant economic turmoil. Former Treasury officials noted that it is unusual for politically appointed personnel to be involved in managing the payment network, which adheres to strict protocols to ensure the security and privacy of transactions. It remains unclear how DOGE representatives plan to utilize their access to the payment system. Sources indicate that DOGE representatives will not have direct authority to halt individual payments or make other changes, as their access is "read-only." Besant's approval of this arrangement comes with the condition that DOGE representatives' activities must be documented and subject to oversight. The representatives intend to review the overall efficiency of the payment system.