Elon Musk’s Division of Authorities Effectivity staff has been given “learn solely” entry to the Treasury Division’s federal cost system, and federal expenditures haven’t been affected, the Treasury stated in a letter to Congress late Tuesday. 

The letter, from Jonathan Blum, a Treasury official, stated {that a} evaluate of the Treasury’s Fiscal Service cost system has not brought about “funds for obligations equivalent to Social Safety and Medicare to be delayed or re-routed.”

“Treasury has no increased obligation than managing the federal government’s funds on behalf of the American individuals, and its funds system is essential to that course of,” the letter learn. 

Tom Krause — a expertise govt who’s a member of Musk’s DOGE staff and is engaged on a evaluate of the cost system — has additionally been granted a high secret safety clearance, in line with the letter. 

“Mr. Krause is a longtime expertise govt. His many years of expertise in constructing firms and managing steadiness sheets as a chief monetary officer are of nice profit to this evaluate,” the letter reads. “In an effort to permit him to carry out this operate, he has been employed as an knowledgeable/advisor by the federal authorities and designated in a task generally used throughout Administrations—a “particular authorities worker” —pursuant to relevant legislation.”

Democratic lawmakers have expressed concern that entry to the system may permit DOGE, which disburses practically 90% of all federal funds, to limit disbursement of federal funds. 

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, rating member of the Senate Banking Committee, stated that Blum’s letter raised extra questions than solutions. 

“It asserts {that a} set of Treasury employees members have ‘read-only’ entry however fails to reply questions on non-Treasury staff, like these working for Elon Musk and DOGE,” Warren stated in an announcement.

The Treasury’s letter got here in response to a name from Senate Banking Committee Democrats, which incorporates Warren and Sen. Ron Wyden, for the Authorities Accountability Workplace “to analyze Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent’s choice to grant entry to delicate authorities cost techniques to Elon Musk and different “Division of Authorities Effectivity” staff.” 

DOGE isn’t a authorities division, however a job pressure established by Mr. Trump to search out methods to chop federal spending. 

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