1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

The Trump administration granting Elon Musk's team access to the Treasury Department's payment system is deeply concerning. This unprecedented move hands an unelected billionaire immense power over federal spending, bypassing Congressional oversight. While improving efficiency is a worthy goal, allowing Musk's representatives to potentially restrict funds already allocated by Congress sets a dangerous precedent that undermines our democratic processes. This payment system access appears to be part of a broader push by the administration to unilaterally limit government spending in ways that could undermine vital programs and services. Budgeting and spending authority rests with the legislative branch as a key check on executive power. Ceding control of disbursements to Musk's private staff circumvents this crucial system of checks and balances. Furthermore, the abrupt removal of the career civil servant who initially resisted granting this access raises troubling questions about political retaliation against those working to uphold long-standing protocols. Qualified public servants should not face reprisals for attempting to safeguard institutional norms and procedures. I urge you to investigate this overreach and take any available measures to revoke Musk's team's access to the payment system. Preserving Congress's power of the purse is essential to maintaining our democratic system of government. Improper influence by private entities must not be permitted to erode these fundamental principles. Bold action is needed to rein in this administration's consistent defiance of constitutional bounds.