Trump Administration Faces Backlash Over Treasury Payment System Access

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A controversial attempt by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to gain control over the U.S. Treasury’s payment systems has sparked a political firestorm, raising concerns about the potential misuse of federal funds and the erosion of congressional oversight.

The dispute began just days after President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, when DOGE officials pressured acting Treasury Secretary David Lebryk to halt USAID payments using the department’s sensitive payment processing system. Lebryk, a career civil servant, resisted the request, citing legal and procedural concerns, according to a source familiar with the exchange.

Tom Krause, a former tech executive and DOGE’s top representative at Treasury, warned Lebryk that refusing to comply could expose him to legal risks. The email exchange, described to CNN by a source, revealed the first known instance of DOGE attempting to use Treasury’s tools to advance Trump’s political agenda.

The controversy escalated this week, prompting emergency court proceedings and a temporary restraining order issued by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. The order limits access to Treasury’s payment systems to two DOGE-affiliated employees, Tom Krause and Marko Elez, with “read-only” permissions. The decision followed a lawsuit filed by government employee unions, which alleged that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had allowed improper access to sensitive financial data.

The Treasury Department’s payment system, managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, processes over $5 trillion annually, including tax refunds, Social Security benefits, and federal salaries. Any attempt to manipulate this system for political purposes would mark an unprecedented shift in fiscal policy, potentially undermining Congress’s constitutional authority over federal spending.

Democratic lawmakers have expressed alarm over the situation. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined protesters outside the Treasury Department on Tuesday, calling for transparency and accountability. “This is about protecting the integrity of our government and the privacy of Americans’ financial information,” Van Hollen said during the rally.

Elon Musk, who chairs DOGE, has been a vocal advocate for cutting federal spending. In recent weeks, he has publicly celebrated the prospect of shutting down certain payments, raising fears about his influence over Treasury operations. The Health Systems Strengthening program, which funds healthcare initiatives in developing nations, has already been paused for 90 days under Trump’s executive order.

Lebryk, who retired abruptly last week after more than 35 years at Treasury, opposed the initial demands from DOGE. In an email, he warned that granting such access could create “practical and personal liability issues.” Despite his objections, Krause and Elez were eventually granted limited access to the payment system, though the scope of their authority remains under scrutiny.

The Justice Department has assured lawmakers that Krause and Elez cannot alter the payment system, but questions linger about the administration’s intentions. “The hole here is what happened between the initial ask and Bessent’s sign-off,” said a source familiar with the events. “Either the DOGE aspirations for what they wanted dramatically changed, or the limitations they insist were placed on them aren’t the whole story.”

As the legal and political battles continue, the controversy highlights the tension between Trump’s political appointees and career civil servants, as well as the broader implications for federal spending and oversight.