'We would call it a coup': watchdogs, Dems attack Elon Musk Treasury takeover

Democratic lawmakers and watchdog groups are expressing strong opposition to Elon Musk's alleged takeover of the U.S. Treasury Department's payment system, which they claim could lead to significant privacy and security breaches. Senator Ron Wyden reported that Musk's DOGE team, comprised of young programmers, gained unauthorized access to the Treasury's payment systems, which manage trillions of dollars in government payments, including Social Security and Medicare. Wyden described the situation as a potential coup, emphasizing the risk posed to sensitive personal data of millions of Americans. Musk defended the actions of his team, claiming they uncovered systemic issues within the Treasury's payment approval process. However, critics argue that Musk's involvement raises serious national security concerns, particularly given his business interests in China. In response to the situation, Democratic senators are calling for investigations and potential legislation to curb Musk's influence over the Treasury. Legal actions are also being considered by privacy advocacy groups, highlighting the unprecedented nature of this intrusion into federal systems. The controversy has sparked a broader debate about the implications of private individuals controlling critical government functions.

- Democratic lawmakers are opposing Elon Musk's alleged takeover of the Treasury's payment system.

- Concerns have been raised about privacy and security breaches affecting millions of Americans.

- Musk's DOGE team reportedly gained unauthorized access to sensitive government payment systems.

- Critics highlight potential national security risks due to Musk's business ties in China.

- Legal actions are being considered to challenge the DOGE team's access to federal systems.