The US Treasury Department has assured Congress that a “special government employee” associated with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has “read-only” access to vital federal government payment systems that disburse trillions of dollars annually.

“Treasury staff members working with Tom Krause, a Treasury employee, will have read-only access to the coded data of the Fiscal Service’s payment systems in order to continue this operational efficiency assessment,” the February 4 letter notes.

It’s in response to letters that US Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, raising concerns about the DOGE team’s involvement after reports suggested Musk’s associates had been granted “full access” to the payments systems responsible for Social Security and Medicare benefits, tax credits, and grants and payments to federal employees and contractors.

According to Bessent’s letter, Krause, CEO of Cloud Software Group (owner of Citrix and Netscaler), has been hired by the federal government as an expert/consultant to support an “operational efficiency assessment” of the federal payment systems.

As part of this, he is working with “veteran career Treasury officials … in accordance with all standard security, safety, and privacy standards,” the letter says.

Krause now serves as a “special government employee,” a role commonly used across administrations, although it’s unclear if this means he is on leave from his chief executive post. The Register reached out to Cloud Software Group but did not receive any response. Krause’s access is “similar” to that given to “individuals reviewing Treasury systems, such as auditors,” the letter adds.

Working for the feds while also leading private companies doesn’t seem to be much of an issue under Trump 2.0. 

Musk also holds the special government employee designation, and now his DOGE team has this “read-only” access to payment systems. And, of course, Musk’s companies still also receive massive government contracts.

When asked about the Treasury Secretary’s letter, Wyden told The Register: “I’m sure the Treasury Secretary and the president want to save face and downplay the risks as Elon Musk seizes power, but nothing they’re saying is believable or trustworthy. The American people can see what’s happening, and Secretary Bessent is asking them not to believe what’s playing out right in front of their eyes.”

Wyden and Warren both protested the DOGE team’s access outside of the Treasury Department “where Elon Musk has launched a full scale authoritarian takeover,” according to Wyden. “My message to Musk is simple: get your hands off our money and get the hell out.” ®