Two government watchdogs have launched an audit of a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to the sensitive federal payment system at the Treasury.
The Treasury Inspector and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) told the senators this week that they are considering access to the system for Doge employees.
General Lauren Silva, assistant inspector at the Treasury, said Thursday that agency Watchdog began an audit on February 6th with the Finance Bureau, which manages the delicate payment system.
The audit's purpose is to evaluate the granting and restricting access to the system and ensuring payments in accordance with laws and regulations, Sciurba has expressed concerns by several democratic senators. I said this in a letter to the lawmakers.
Treasury inspectors also said “follow up claims of inappropriate or fraudulent payments.”
Elon Musk, who leads Doge's wide push to significantly reduce government spending, claimed last week that there was a ramp-deferred rights payments paid by the Treasury.
“We hope to start fieldwork soon,” Sciurba said. “Given the breadth of this effort, the audit will not be completed until August, however we recognize the dangers that inappropriate access or inadequate control poses to the integrity of sensitive payment systems.”
“So, if any serious issues become apparent prior to that, we will issue a preliminary update and report,” he added.
GAO also accepted a request to investigate “unprecedented access” for Doge employees in a letter Wednesday to Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Roer.) I've said that. .
Congressional Watchdog said it plans to “issue one of the audit work and multiple reports as needed.”
The Doge team last month sought access to a sensitive payment system, but was initially denied by longtime Treasury officials.
Two Doge employees ultimately received access to the system. Technology executive Tom Krause and 25-year-old Marko Elez.
Both were intended to receive read-only access to the system. This means you cannot make any changes. However, according to a court filed earlier this week, Erez was “mistakefully” given to parts of the system with the privilege of reading and awards.
Joseph Giorri III, deputy committee member of the Department of Treasury, revoked additional permission after Treasury staff were discovered, and Erez said he did not use writing privileges to make any changes.
Erez resigned last week after the Wall Street Journal discovered several racist social media posts he made from his now-deleted account. There is yet to be no indication that Erez has rejoined the Doj or the Treasury, despite Musk's vow to rehire him after vocal support from Vice President Vance.
