WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Inspector General has initiated an audit of the security controls surrounding the federal government’s payment system. This decision follows concerns raised by Democratic senators regarding access granted to a team connected to Elon Musk during the previous administration.
The audit will scrutinize two years’ worth of transactions in relation to claims of “alleged fraudulent payments” made by Musk’s team, according to Treasury’s deputy inspector general.
This audit is part of a larger movement spearheaded by Democratic lawmakers and federal employee unions to enhance transparency and accountability regarding government operations during the Trump administration. Musk’s team has sought extensive access to federal computer systems while advocating for significant workforce reductions.
The deputy inspector general confirmed that fieldwork on the audit will commence immediately. While the comprehensive review may take until August to finalize, interim updates will be provided if significant issues are identified ahead of schedule.
Musk, who has leadership roles in several high-profile companies, asserts that his initiatives aim to identify waste and fraud, claiming taxpayer savings; however, many of these claims remain unverified. Concerns persist that his team’s aggressive tactics could compromise government computer systems and exploit sensitive government data.
Recent correspondence from Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden expresses urgency for accountability regarding the inquiry initiated by the inspector general’s office.
In a letter to the Treasury Secretary, senators highlighted inconsistencies in disclosures about access to sensitive systems, calling for a transparent report detailing system access and activities.
The Treasury Department has provided conflicting statements regarding the access permissions granted to Musk’s team, admitting to a temporary code-editing capability after initially claiming it was read-only.
In a controversial turn, the employee who granted access resigned amid a scandal involving offensive posts on social media, prompting Musk to advocate for his reinstatement.
Legal actions have been initiated by advocacy groups regarding potential unauthorized access to key Treasury systems, with former treasury secretaries warning of the risks associated with Musk’s team accessing sensitive government payment systems.
Earlier this week, Treasury officials declined to brief top senators on the ongoing concerns about unauthorized access, citing ongoing legal proceedings.
ECNETNews will continue to monitor developments related to this critical issue affecting government operations.
