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Billionaire Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) now hold unprecedented access to vital government systems, raising alarm over Social Security, Medicare, and personal financial data. With their unrestricted reach into the Treasury Department’s payment systems, millions of Americans could see their benefits disrupted without warning.
Critics argue that the situation is both dangerous and illegal, yet the Trump administration continues to allow Musk’s unchecked influence over federal operations.
Musk’s entry into the federal government’s financial infrastructure was made possible by President Donald Trump and a Republican Party that has ignored concerns over privacy and governance. Unlike trained government officials who undergo extensive background checks, Musk’s hand-picked team consists of private-sector technocrats with no accountability to the American people.
Their access extends to highly sensitive databases containing Social Security numbers, banking information, and federal payment logs—an intrusion that experts say is “massive and unprecedented.”
Max Richtman, head of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, has warned that Social Security recipients should be alarmed by Musk’s involvement. “The unelected billionaire, who has no legal role in the U.S. government but heads Trump’s unofficial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and his newly installed minions in the Treasury Department now have access to the personal information of every Social Security beneficiary—and the ability to stop payments for any federal programs they dislike,” Richtman stated.
Under Musk’s guidance, DOGE has gained oversight of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service, which is responsible for disbursing trillions of dollars annually. This includes payments for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, federal tax refunds, and salaries for government employees.
While Musk’s team claims they are improving efficiency, their actions suggest a broader strategy of privatization and budget cuts, which could lead to major disruptions in benefits.
Colbert King of The Washington Post has described Musk’s access to government records as unprecedented. “Musk and his hirelings are gaining access to vast amounts of privileged and restricted government information on a scale unseen in our nation’s capital,” King wrote.
“The Treasury Department has given DOGE license to scrutinize federal payment systems that disburse trillions of dollars annually. The systems also contain a trove of sensitive information about hundreds of millions of Americans—information that private commercial interests and foreign governments would pay dearly to get their hands on.”
The legal battle over Musk’s role in government operations has already begun. The Alliance for Retired Americans has filed a lawsuit against new Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, demanding that DOGE’s access to sensitive records be revoked.
“The scale of the intrusion into individuals’ privacy is massive and unprecedented,” the lawsuit states. “Millions of people cannot avoid engaging in financial transactions with the federal government and, therefore, cannot avoid having their sensitive personal and financial information maintained in government records.”
Bessent’s decision to grant DOGE full, continuous access to Treasury databases has drawn widespread condemnation. Critics warn that retirees, taxpayers, federal employees, and contractors now have no assurance that their personal information will remain protected.
The lawsuit contends that Musk’s team, without any legal mandate, now wields the power to determine who receives government payments—and who does not.
Despite repeated assurances from Trump that Social Security and Medicare would not be touched, his administration’s actions suggest otherwise. Musk’s oversight of federal payment systems has sparked fears that benefits could be delayed, reduced, or outright canceled under the guise of government efficiency.
His influence within the administration is now so vast that some argue he has surpassed Trump himself in terms of power.
The lack of transparency surrounding DOGE’s activities has led to growing public outrage. While Trump’s supporters may have backed his promises to reduce government waste, few anticipated that he would hand over control of federal agencies to an unelected billionaire with no congressional oversight.
Musk’s leadership style—marked by impulsive decision-making and disregard for traditional governance—has only intensified these concerns. The idea that a private tech mogul could wield such authority over Social Security and Medicare payments has alarmed both lawmakers and policy experts.
With DOGE’s access to financial data, critics argue that Musk’s team could selectively freeze payments, redirect funds, or manipulate government accounts to fit their agenda.
For those who rely on federal benefits, the situation is dire. Musk and his team now have the ability to shut down Social Security payments, cut off Medicare coverage, and interfere with financial transactions that millions depend on for survival.
While some may dismiss these warnings as alarmist, the reality is that Musk’s role in the government is unprecedented—and dangerous.
The consequences of DOGE’s actions are already being felt. Reports have surfaced that some Social Security recipients have experienced delays in payments, though the Treasury Department has not confirmed whether these disruptions are linked to Musk’s team.
Regardless, the fact that an unelected billionaire now has the power to influence the financial well-being of millions is cause for concern.
There is still time for Congress to act, but urgency is required. Lawmakers must step in to investigate DOGE’s operations, limit Musk’s access to federal systems, and ensure that government benefits remain protected from private interference.
If left unchecked, Musk’s control over the Treasury could have lasting consequences for Social Security, Medicare, and the financial security of millions of Americans.
The time to panic is now.
