The U.S. Treasury’s payment system, responsible for a massive $6 trillion in annual payments, is under scrutiny as a task force called DOGE, led by Elon Musk, has gained access. Concerns have arisen from both Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups about how this could impact Social Security, Medicare, and other essential government benefits that millions of Americans rely on. Although the Treasury Department claims DOGE has “read-only access” and that no payments have been delayed or rerouted, many remain skeptical, especially since Musk has stated publicly that DOGE has already stopped payments to some organizations. This situation has led to lawsuits, protests, and calls for investigations, sparking debate about the security and privacy of sensitive financial data, as well as potential conflicts of interest. The situation is further complicated because the government is nearing its debt limit, and any issues with the payment system could create a financial crisis.
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