CMS Data Row: Musk's Access Sparks Privacy Fears
The Democratic attorneys general's lawsuit against Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has sparked a national debate about privacy, security, and the control of payment systems, with many questioning the motivations behind Musk's push for access to the sensitive information.
Thirteen Democratic attorneys general are suing Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency over its access to federal payment systems, citing concerns about security risks and missed payments for programs like Social Security and Medicare, in what they call a massive privacy invasion.
The lawsuit aims to stop Musk's access to the systems, which contain personal data, with the attorneys general arguing that he has no authority to access this information and that it's unlawful, unprecedented, and unacceptable. A federal judge recently ordered that two Musk allies have only "read-only" access to Treasury Department payment systems, but Musk himself remains excluded.
The controversy began when Elon Musk's associates sought to use the Treasury Department's ultra-sensitive payment processing system to shut down USAID spending, according to emails obtained by CNN. The request was made just four days after Donald Trump's inauguration, with Tom Krause, a former tech executive and now the top DOGE staffer at Treasury, requesting that Acting Secretary David Lebryk immediately stop all USAID payments.
The situation has raised concerns about the control of payment systems, the potential for abuse of power, and the risks of data breaches and system security. The controversy has also drawn attention to the BFS payment system, highlighting its critical nature and the potential risks of tampering with it. The Treasury Department's Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS) processes over a billion payments annually, totaling over $5 trillion.
As the lawsuit moves forward, the fate of the payment systems and the security of Americans' personal data hang in the balance, with many calling for greater transparency and oversight to prevent potential abuses of power.
