Senate Democrats on Wednesday called for Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent to attend a meeting with the Democratic Caucus, and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to answer questions about access to sensitive federal payment systems. .
The senator, led by Senator Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.), has raised concerns about the “seemingly hostile takeover” of the system known as financial services by employees of Elon Musk's Doge.
“Unlawful penetration of the system under the guise of an “operational efficiency assessment” calls for your immediate attention and Congress requires answers regarding the purpose and scope of “Doge's” activities,” a letter to Bessent. I read it.
Two Doge employees accessed the system and processed 90% of federal payments following a clash with the Treasury Secretary, who resigned last week.
In response to public protests from Democrats, the Treasury Department explained in a letter Tuesday that it was conducting a review of its payment system, noting that staff have read-only access. Read-only access means that you cannot edit or modify the system.
Schumer was Wednesday Sen. Patty Murray (d-wash.), Ron Wyden (d-ore.), Mark Warner (d-va.), Elizabeth Warren (d-mass.), and Gary Peters. (d-mich.), called the explanation of Treasury, “completely inadequate, even fantastical, evasive.”
“You know, the payment system for fiscal services is absolutely essential to our economic and national security,” they write. “Pervasion or manipulation needs to be addressed immediately. Frankly, the information your department has provided so far is grossly insufficient.”
“We speak not only for the Caucus, but for the US, which has been affected by millions. This is an urgent matter, and the American people are confident that the government will continue to function effectively and that privacy remains. He says you need your participation to have it, the senator continued.
They asked the Treasury Secretary to respond by Thursday.
After several unions sued Bescent and the Treasury earlier this week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) agreed to restrict access to the system. Cloud Software Group CEO and Marko Elez CEO Tom Krause is the only “special government official” to maintain read-only access, according to an order signed by a federal judge on Thursday.
