**Elon Musk’s Digital Dominance Over Government Systems Sparks Worries**
Since the end of January, Elon Musk and his **Department of Government Efficiency** (DOGE) task force have meticulously accessed critical digital networks and databases that underpin the U.S. federal government.
### **Musk’s Growing Reach to Government Data**
One of DOGE’s early objectives was the Treasury Department’s payment systems, along with the Office of Personnel Management, which maintains data on millions of federal workers. Reports have emerged indicating that DOGE personnel have also infiltrated payment and contracting frameworks for Medicare, Medicaid, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Musk, who steers enterprises with **billion-dollar government contracts**, is also an influential political player. Last year, he channeled over **$290 million** to support President Trump and other Republican candidates. He asserts that DOGE’s aim is to pinpoint waste and fraud, yet experts caution that his access to governmental systems presents him with **unmatched power** over political allies, adversaries, business rivals, and the American populace.
Historian **Ruth Ben-Ghiat**, who specializes in authoritarianism, has characterized Musk’s maneuvers as a **”new kind of coup.”** Legal experts speculate that numerous actions may breach federal statutes.
Georgetown University academic **Abraham L. Newman** informed *Mashable* that the data Musk and DOGE have obtained **”effectively reveals everything about our society.”** While such data is usually overseen by impartial civil officials to guarantee government functionality, Newman warns that its **politicization** could pose significant risks.
### **What Data Does Musk Command?**
Even if Musk’s access is characterized as **read-only**, as stated by one Treasury official, he could still potentially view:
– Social Security numbers
– Health and employment records of federal employees
– Data regarding federal student loans
– Government contracts, including those of potential competitors to Musk’s ventures (Tesla, SpaceX, and X)
A federal contractor speaking anonymously to *The Atlantic* referred to this as **”the largest data breach and IT security breach in U.S. history.”**
Senator **Elizabeth Warren** has cautioned that Musk may now have access to Americans’ **payment histories and bank account details**, stating, **”Elon now possesses the capability to extract all of that information for his own benefit.”**
In spite of these apprehensions, Musk has **not presented an ethics waiver** for his involvement in DOGE, as mandated for government employees facing conflicts of interest, nor has he publicly divested from his businesses. A Democratic effort to **subpoena Musk** regarding DOGE’s actions recently fell short in Congress.
### **What Might Musk Do With His Digital Authority?**
#### **1) Stop Government Payments**
Though the Treasury Department asserts DOGE has only **read-only access**, *WIRED* disclosed that a Musk-associated engineer had **administrative privileges** over software managing Social Security payments, tax returns, and other vital government transactions.
This DOGE staff member resigned after *The Wall Street Journal* revealed his former racist and eugenic-minded social media activity. Nevertheless, Musk subsequently **lobbied for his restoration** through a poll on X.
The Justice Department has since **limited DOGE’s access** to the Treasury’s payment infrastructure, but should Musk regain administrative control, he could **cease payments he considers fraudulent or inefficient**.
According to *CNN*, Musk’s associates at the Treasury Department have already urged officials to **halt payments** from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which distributes humanitarian aid globally.
University of Michigan scholar **Elizabeth Popp Berman** recently cautioned in an essay that Musk’s oversight of government payments could signify **”the end of democracy.”** She noted, **”An unelected billionaire wielding direct control over nearly seven trillion dollars is power beyond the Founders’ wildest imaginations.”**
#### **2) Favor Allies and Penalize Opponents**
Musk could feasibly **reroute government funds** to supporters while severing payments to political adversaries. Both he and Trump have history of openly criticizing their detractors.
Trump has previously suggested that participants in the January 6 committee **”should face jail time,”** and Musk has recently accused **Treasury officials of “violating the law”**—without substantiating his claims.
#### **3) Obtain a Competitive Business Edge**
Musk’s **dual role** as a government insider and CEO heightens concerns over **unfair competition**. His access to federal contracts and payment systems could enable his firms to **outpace competitors**, undermining free market principles.
During DOGE’s pursuits, Musk’s social media platform **X announced a collaboration with Visa**, allowing users to connect their bank accounts for payments. Given Musk’s enduring ambition to transform X into a financial platform, his **insider awareness of government payment systems** could