Top Treasury Official Resigns Amid Clash With Musk Allies Over Payment System

WASHINGTON, D.C. — David Lebryk, the highest-ranking career official at the U.S. Treasury Department, is set to resign following a dispute with allies of billionaire Elon Musk over access to a critical government payment system, according to a report by The Washington Post on Friday.

The conflict centered on a sensitive system responsible for processing over $6 trillion annually in federal payments, including Social Security and Medicare benefits, federal salaries, government contracts, and tax refunds. Three sources familiar with the matter told The Post that Lebryk and Musk’s representatives clashed over access to the system, though the exact reasons for Musk’s team’s interest remain unclear.

Elon Musk, a billionaire entrepreneur and adviser to former President Donald Trump, has been tasked with overhauling government operations. However, the specifics of how his team sought to engage with the Treasury’s payment system have not been disclosed.

Representatives for Musk and the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Musk’s team declined to comment to The Post, and Lebryk could not be reached for comment.

Lebryk, who has spent decades in nonpolitical roles at the Treasury, is expected to leave his position soon, though an exact departure date was not provided. His resignation comes amid broader tensions between career government officials and political appointees during the Trump administration.

The U.S. Senate recently confirmed a new Treasury secretary, signaling a potential shift in the department’s leadership and priorities. The report did not specify whether Lebryk’s departure is directly tied to the new appointment or the broader political climate.

This development highlights the challenges of balancing technological innovation with the security and stability of critical government systems. The Treasury’s payment infrastructure is a cornerstone of federal operations, handling trillions of dollars annually and affecting millions of Americans.

As the situation unfolds, questions remain about the implications of Musk’s involvement in government operations and the potential impact on federal systems. The Treasury Department has yet to issue a formal statement regarding Lebryk’s resignation or the reported dispute.