U.S. Treasury Clarifies Musk’s Efficiency Team Role Amid Growing Concerns Over Government Payments

The U.S. Treasury Department has clarified that Elon Musk’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency will not be making any changes to the Treasury’s payment system, addressing growing concerns over the potential disruption of critical government disbursements, including Social Security and Medicare payments.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent provided the clarification during an interview with Fox Business on Wednesday, emphasizing that Musk’s team had been granted “read-only access” to the payment system codes but had no authority to alter or stop payments. Bessent stressed that decisions regarding the suspension or modification of payments would be made by other agencies, not the Treasury’s system.

Bessent explained that the study being conducted by Musk’s team was focused on increasing accountability, accuracy, and traceability in the way government funds are allocated. However, he reassured the public that the payments themselves would remain unaffected.

“We are focused on ensuring that money disbursed by the Treasury goes where it’s intended, but rest assured, payments are not being touched,” Bessent said. “Any changes to government disbursements would be handled by other departments, not through the Treasury’s payment system.”

This statement comes after a report that suggested Musk’s department, which is tasked with improving government efficiency, might be involved in reducing payments, particularly to popular programs like Social Security. The Treasury’s clarification helped quell immediate concerns that essential services might face disruptions.

Bessent also praised Musk’s initiative to cut government spending, drawing a comparison to previous efficiency efforts like the Grace Commission in the 1980s and initiatives from the Clinton administration in the 1990s. “DOGE is not going to fail,” Bessent asserted, referencing Musk’s popular cryptocurrency project, which has generated attention within government circles.

The Treasury Secretary also lauded Musk’s track record as “the greatest entrepreneur of this generation” and suggested that DOGE’s growing influence in Washington had already begun to ruffle feathers among some establishment figures.

As Musk’s efficiency team continues its work, the focus on reducing waste and improving accountability within government systems remains central to their mission, but as clarified by the Treasury, essential government payments will not be directly impacted by these efforts.