1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding recent reports of unauthorized access and potential security risks within the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s payment systems. According to a recent article in WIRED, members of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been granted access to sensitive Treasury payment systems, including the Payment Automation Manager and Secure Payment System, which handle over $5 trillion annually. An internal email from the Bureau of the Fiscal Service’s (BFS) threat intelligence team has designated DOGE staff as an “insider threat,” highlighting that their access poses “the single greatest insider threat risk the Bureau of the Fiscal Service has ever faced.” The email recommends immediate suspension of DOGE members’ access and a comprehensive review of their actions within these systems. One individual, Marko Elez, a 25-year-old engineer with prior experience at Musk’s companies, was granted read and write privileges on these critical systems. This level of access could allow unauthorized alterations or disruptions to federal payments, raising significant security concerns. Furthermore, reports indicate that DOGE members have performed unauthorized changes and locked civil servants out of sensitive systems in other federal agencies. A federal judge has temporarily restricted DOGE staffers from accessing and altering payment system information, yet concerns remain about the extent of their influence and potential risks. The consolidation of power by unelected individuals within critical government operations undermines democratic processes and poses a threat to national security. The lack of transparency and accountability in granting such access is alarming and necessitates immediate action. I urge you to: 1. Initiate a thorough investigation into the circumstances that allowed DOGE members to gain access to sensitive federal payment systems. 2. Enforce strict access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel with appropriate clearances can access and modify critical government systems. 3. Implement robust oversight mechanisms to monitor and prevent unauthorized activities within federal agencies. 4. Hold accountable those responsible for granting unauthorized access and ensure that such breaches do not occur in the future. Protecting the integrity of our federal systems is paramount to maintaining public trust and national security. I trust that you will take the necessary steps to address this pressing issue. Thank you for your attention to this matter.