Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Republican lawmakers Monday that Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency do not have any control over a Treasury Department system that manages trillions of dollars in payments, Politico reported.
Last weekend, Bessent granted DOGE access to the payments system that led to a career official at the department resigning. Bessent met with Republican members of the House Financial Services Committee on Monday for a reception and dinner.
Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., said he found Bessent's remarks to be "very reassuring."
"Treasury has control of the Treasury payments system," Barr said.
Barr told Politico DOGE was focused on reviewing the process to make sure there's accountability, transparency, traceability, and making sure that there's not lost payments, missing payments, hemorrhaging of taxpayer funds.
The Kentucky congressman told Politico that Bessent also discussed with lawmakers financial regulation and Bessent's new role as the acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., the chair of the committee said DOGE is simply making recommendations on how to reduce fraud, enhance payment reliability, accuracy and timeliness.
"Those are good suggestions," Hill said to Politico. "They require, obviously, the work of the department and, where necessary, the approval of Congress if it requires legislative action."
Bessent reiterated to lawmakers that Musk and his team do not have control over key Treasury systems, Politico reported, after Democrats railed that Musk could abuse the system.
"It's important for them to be able to know what is being spent — and make certain it's being spent A, the way Congress intended, and B, the way the president would want it to be spent," said Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio to Politico. "Sometimes you have to go into the actual disbursement system, because that way you don't get misinformation, which a lot of bureaucrats do."
Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
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