4 months ago
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(NewsNation) — Current and erstwhile officials person been raising the alarm aft a squad led by Elon Musk was granted entree to the Treasury's outgo systems, which see sensitive data connected millions of Americans.
The White House says that Musk, a South African tech billionaire, has a information clearance to entree the system; however, the bureau typically restricts entree to a precise tiny fig of elder unit due to the fact that of the sensitivity of the information.
What is DOGE?
President Donald Trump created the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) done an enforcement order, renaming what was antecedently the Office of Digital Services and moving the bureau to beryllium nether the Executive Office of the President from the Office of Management and Budget, wherever it was antecedently located.
The bureau is tasked with modernizing authorities technology, and Trump has besides directed Musk, who heads DOGE, to reappraisal finances.
Why has DOGE been controversial?
DOGE has been arguable from the start. Though it is not an bureau oregon a Cabinet-level position, it has been treated similarly. Because it is not an agency, Musk has not had to spell done a Senate confirmation proceeding that would typically beryllium required for idiosyncratic astatine that level of power.
The White House has classified Musk arsenic a peculiar authorities worker with a constricted contract, which means helium is exempt from definite regulations regarding fiscal disclosure and transparency.
DOGE has besides made unilateral changes to definite agencies, astir notably USAID. The enactment is liable for providing humanitarian assistance abroad, and aft accessing systems, DOGE enactment the bulk of employees connected administrative leave, recalled those stationed overseas and blocked staff from accessing the Washington, D.C., office.
Musk and Trump person alleged the bureau is "criminal" and a "fraud" though determination has been nary grounds offered to backmost up immoderate of those claims.
What accusation does DOGE person entree to?
The Treasury Department's outgo strategy includes the systems that power wealth for national grants, payments for Social Security and Medicare, taxation accusation and payments to authorities contractors.
That means DOGE employees person entree to the Social Security numbers of millions of Americans, on with delicate taxation accusation and banking accounts for nonstop deposit.
Trump and Musk person maintained that DOGE is conducting a fiscal audit. However, audits bash not typically see (or require) nonstop entree to the outgo system. Trump besides fired the inspector wide whose relation includes auditing authorities programs and who has extended acquisition doing so.
What could DOGE bash with that information?
The Trump medication claims Musk has read-only access to the system, but critics person inactive raised the alarm astir what Musk could do.
Theoretically, with access to the outgo system, DOGE could chopped disconnected immoderate payments it oregon the president decides should beryllium cut. That could scope from wide moves, similar cutting disconnected the funds for schoolhouse luncheon programs, oregon granular ones, similar deciding which idiosyncratic Americans should oregon should not recieve Social Security payments.
DOGE besides has entree to accusation connected authorities contractors, including a "Do Not Pay" database that prevents ineligible individuals oregon companies from receiving national funds.
Headed by Musk, whose companies are heavy subsidized by authorities funds, DOGE could blacklist his competitors and marque them ineligible for contracts oregon region companies owned by his allies that are presently blacklisted.
