# Elon Musk got access to the Federal Payment System **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** elon-musk\ **Created:** [February 2, 2025, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755 "2025-02-02T13:53:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LouMa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/louma/32/19472_2.png) [@LouMa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouMa)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/1 "2025-02-02T13:53:45Z")
This sounds like an Orwellian nightmare: Elon Musk, not an elected government representative, got access to a system which proceeds payments to American citizens with all the sensitive data included, tax refunds, medical payments etc., companies receiving federal payments. Sensitive private data of American citizens in the hands of a businessman with no government responsibility? DOGE to my knowledge is not a federal institution. Isn’t there any data protection in the US? How do people feel about this situation? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/2 "2025-02-02T15:23:07Z")
Yes DOGE is more or less a federal institution. See: > **[With a new home for DOGE in the White House, here's what you need to know](https://www.npr.org/2025/01/29/nx-s1-5270893/doge-united-states-digital-service-elon-musk-usds-trump-white-house-eop-omb)** > > The Department of Government Efficiency, a post-election promise brought to life by President Trump via executive order, looks different than its original proposal to broadly cut federal spending. Here is an article on the situation and the supposed rationale: > Musk on Saturday responded to a post on his social media platform X about the departure of Lebryk: “The @DOGE team discovered, among other things, that payment approval officers at Treasury were instructed always to approve payments, even to known fraudulent or terrorist groups. They literally never denied a payment in their entire career. Not even once.” > > He did not provide proof of this claim. > **[Elon Musk's DOGE commission gains access to sensitive Treasury payment...](https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-elon-musk-doge-treasury-5e26cc80fcb766981cea56afd57ae759)** > > The move by DOGE means it could have wide leeway to access important taxpayer data, among other things. Obviously if the Treasury department was supposed to individually examine each payment for fraud, etc it would be a truly massive organization and I expect it is the responsibility of each department which requests a payment to ensure payments are not made to fraudulent or terrorist groups. ---
**Author:** ![LouMa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/louma/32/19472_2.png) [@LouMa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouMa)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/3 "2025-02-02T16:51:59Z")
Obviously people don’t object that a personality like Musk has access to very private and sensitive data of normal citizens. Is he bound by professional secrecy? Would he respect this obligation if it existed? Would he use this knowledge to his advantage? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/4 "2025-02-02T16:53:43Z")
IMHO: maybe, no, yes. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/5 "2025-02-02T17:07:22Z")
> [@LouMa](#): > > Musk has access to very private and sensitive data of normal citizens. I don’t think the reason Musk is doing this is for access to private data about individuals. I think he wanted another tool to prevent expenditures on DEI, transgendered, renewable energy, climate change, vaccines, liberal organizations, foreign organizations/countries which are not 100% pro-Israel… ---
**Author:** ![LouMa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/louma/32/19472_2.png) [@LouMa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouMa)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/6 "2025-02-02T17:27:19Z")
Well, yes, I suppose there is a different perspective concerning data protection in the American society. I live in a country where data protection laws are strict and data privacy is very highly valued. People would run riot if a member of the government or a federal institution had access to private data. Obviously the US perspective in this matter is a different one. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/7 "2025-02-02T17:29:45Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Obviously if the Treasury department was supposed to individually examine each payment for fraud, etc it would be a truly massive organization and I expect it is the responsibility of each department which requests a payment to ensure payments are not made to fraudulent or terrorist groups Yes, considering they send out more than a million payments a year. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/8 "2025-02-02T17:31:34Z")
> [@LouMa](#): > > I live in a country where data protection laws are strict and data privacy is very highly valued. What country? You can add it to your profile which is very helpful to us in gaining an international perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/9 "2025-02-02T17:33:51Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > > [@PastTense](#): > > > > Obviously if the Treasury department was supposed to individually examine each payment for fraud, etc it would be a truly massive organization and I expect it is the responsibility of each department which requests a payment to ensure payments are not made to fraudulent or terrorist groups > > Yes, considering they send out more than a million payments a year. More than a _billion_ payments a year. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/10 "2025-02-02T17:34:18Z")
> [@LouMa](#): > > People would run riot… Not doubting you for one second, but what would this expression, if it played out, actually LOOK LIKE in daily life? What would ordinary people “running riot” mean? Phone calls, emails, picket lines, strikes at office jobs? I do not mean any sarcasm or skepticism here-- really. I feel like the American people should be “running riot,” but I don’t know how that actually happens or how it gets organized. I remember the protest marches against the Vietnam War, and maybe that’s what needs to happen now. How DOES it happen? ---
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/11 "2025-02-02T17:58:41Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I don’t think the reason Musk is doing this is for access to private data about individuals. I think he wanted another tool to prevent expenditures on DEI, transgendered, renewable energy, climate change, vaccines, liberal organizations, foreign organizations/countries which are not 100% pro-Israel… I think it’s this. They want to be able to control the flow of money directly, and not take the chance that a lifelong bureaucrat will refuse to follow an illegal order or work outside the established procedure. They can just step in and do it themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/12 "2025-02-02T18:00:28Z")
I wonder if he’s empowered to shut down Social Security payments to particular people. ---
**Author:** ![LouMa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/louma/32/19472_2.png) [@LouMa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouMa)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/13 "2025-02-02T18:01:35Z")
The situation seems to be completely different. People do not easily give away private data and are not asked to do so. If you call in sick for example your employer has no right to know any details about your condition. The medical secret is absolute. This is only one example of many. So if you ask what “running riot” would mean, this could be public protest, an attitude of non-compliance and refusal. People (in general, individual behaviour might differ) would not accept a policy of sharing private data with political institutions. If a businessman had access to sensitive data of, let’s say tax refunds or health information, there might be public manifestations and a lot of criticism. The responsible political party might ascertain a loss of votes. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/14 "2025-02-02T18:08:13Z")
> **[Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog.lol)](https://bsky.app/profile/bubbaprog.lol/post/3lh77ekgdas2h)** > > Lutheran Social Services is one of the largest employers in South Dakota, operating senior living facilities across the state. Republicans are shutting it down > > Perhaps more concerning is Mike Flynn, known foreign asset, having access to this data? This seems bad. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/15 "2025-02-02T18:11:45Z")
> **[Pam MN (@pamgolynx.bsky.social)](https://bsky.app/profile/pamgolynx.bsky.social/post/3lh7mqj6wmc2u)** > > USAID is the biggest international aid agency in the world. It supplies disaster and poverty relief to millions of people. We’ve been helping the world in trouble since 1961 and Trump and the bully boys claim it’s illegal when of course, it’s not... Also this. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/16 "2025-02-02T18:28:08Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > [@bubbaprog.lol on Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/bubbaprog.lol/post/3lh77ekgdas2h) > > This seems bad. - This is astonishing. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/17 "2025-02-02T18:30:45Z")
I’m certain that much of what Elon’s gang is up to this weekend is illegal, but we’re in a post rule of law era now. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/18 "2025-02-02T18:34:58Z")
It’s extremely distressing to think of all the ways Musk could abuse the payment system. I’m not even thinking of that right now. If he gets access to this, he can put pressure on other federal employees to grant him illegal access to _other_ resources he doesn’t have lawful rights to. Such as, a SCIF that contains information useful to the foreign political patrons we all know he serves (Russia and China foremost). I can’t even think about this. He’s a master of double signaling. Just as dogs will lap up their own vomit to redigest it, all of the “government too big” zombies will lap this up as “hooray, he’s cutting off bureaucratic moochers from sucking on the public tit.” He’ll steal 99% of everything and they’ll praise him for getting government down to 1% of what it was. Things will collapse and he’ll blame the wokes. It’s sickening. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/19 "2025-02-02T19:48:19Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > feel like the American people should be “running riot,” but I don’t know how that actually happens or how it gets organized. We would be shot in the legs. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755/20 "2025-02-02T20:32:37Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > I’m certain that much of what Elon’s gang is up to this weekend is illegal, but we’re in a post rule of law era now. Musk pulled the heist that was the plot of the fourth Die Hard movie. The villains in that one didn’t have the President on their side. And reality seems to be fresh out of John McClanes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-got-access-to-the-federal-payment-system/1013755.md?page=2)