U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, alongside other Senate Democrats, has called for an independent investigation into Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's alleged actions regarding the access granted to Elon Musk and his associates to federal payment systems. The senators have expressed concerns over potential illegal access and conflicts of interest, citing discrepancies between Secretary Bessent's responses and publicly available information.
The request for an investigation was directed to Deputy Treasury Inspector General Loren Sciurba and Acting Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration Heather Hill. The senators emphasized the need to determine if any laws or regulations were violated in granting such access, particularly those related to conflicts of interest and the protection of sensitive personal information.
Senators Warren and Ron Wyden had previously sought clarification from Secretary Bessent about these reports but found his response lacking in detail. They noted that the response did not clarify whether individuals outside the Treasury, such as those affiliated with Musk and DOGE, had more than "read-only" access before public scrutiny arose. The New York Times reported efforts to allow DOGE affiliates access to critical payment systems, contradicting Treasury's claims that access was solely for reviewing system integrity.
Concerns extend beyond personal data to include confidential government contract payments. Musk's companies, Tesla and SpaceX, have received significant government funding, raising questions about potential benefits from accessing competitors' payment information. Additionally, Musk's company X plans a new payments system with Visa this year.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Musk would avoid conflicts of interest between his business ventures and federal dealings. However, senators found this assurance insufficient given the stakes involved.
The lawmakers stressed the importance of oversight in managing access to critical systems due to potential economic and national security threats posed by unauthorized access. They urged TIGTA to evaluate the extent of accessed payment systems, protective measures for sensitive data, any White House influence on Treasury officials, and possible legal violations by Secretary Bessent or others.