Democrats promise bill to block 'unlawful meddling' in Treasury systems after Musk allies gain access

Democratic leaders in both chambers on Monday vowed to introduce legislation to “stop unlawful meddling in the Treasury Department's payment systems.”

Democrats have been sounding the alarm over reports that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire tech investor Elon Musk, was given access to the Treasury Department's sensitive payment systems.

“We must protect people's Social Security payments, their Medicare payments, tax refunds, from any possible tampering by DOGE or any other unauthorized entities,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told reporters at a press conference on Monday.

David Lebryk, who was the Treasury’s highest-ranking career official, resigned following a clash with Musk over access to the systems, a source familiar with the matter told The Hill on condition of anonymity. 

Reports also emerged over the weekend that officials at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) also blocked Musk’s allies from gaining access to secure systems.

President Trump said on Monday that Musk “can't do and won't do anything without our approval,” but he added that his administration will “give him the approval where appropriate.”

“We're trying to shrink government, and he can probably shrink it as well as anybody else, if not better, where we think there's a conflict or if there's a problem, we won't let him go near it,” Trump said, but he added that Musk “has some very good ideas.”

Democrats are targeting Musk as he emerges as a key player in the Trump administration’s cost-cutting efforts.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) earlier Monday released a "dear colleague" letter laying out a 10-point plan for combating Trump, including a bill targeting "unlawful access" to the Treasury Department payment system.

Democratic leaders are accusing the president of overstepping his powers on spending. Recent efforts by Trump to freeze federal aid have also been tied up in the courts as critics raise questions of legality. 

“Let's not mince words here: An unelected, unaccountable billionaire with expansive conflicts of interest, deep ties to China and an indiscreet axe to grind against perceived enemies is hijacking our nation's most sensitive financial data systems and its checkbook so that he can illegally block funds to our constituents based on the slightest whim or wildest conspiracy funds,” Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said to reporters on Monday, referring to Musk.

“Some Republicans are trying to suggest that Musk only has viewing access to Treasury's highly sensitive payment system, as if that's acceptable either,” she said. “But why on Earth should we believe that, particularly when he is saying the exact opposite, loudly and repeatedly, for everyone to see?”