WASHINGTON - Today, Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chair Mark Warner (D-VA) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-MI), in sending the following letter to the new Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, after the Treasury Department’s inadequate responses and evasive answers to a request for information following the hostile takeover of the Treasury Department by Elon Musk and the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (“DOGE”). Specifically, the Senators are concerned about “DOGE” having access to the management and disbursement of trillions of dollars and the highly sensitive information of millions of Americans.

“The Bureau of the Fiscal Service’s payment system is absolutely vital to our economic and national security. Any infiltration or manipulation must be immediately addressed. Frankly, the information your Department has provided on the matter to date is woefully inadequate,” said the Senators. “We speak for not just the caucus, but for the millions of impacted Americans, when we say this is an urgent matter and your participation is necessary for the American people to have confidence that our government will continue to function effectively and that their privacy remains protected.”

The full text of the letter can be seen here and below.

Dear Secretary Bessent:

Senate Democrats are deeply concerned with the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (“DOGE”), Elon Musk, and his unnamed team’s seemingly hostile takeover of the Bureau of the Fiscal Service’s central payment systems. As you know, this is a highly sensitive government system that manages, processes, and disburses trillions of dollars, including Social Security and Medicare payments, tax refunds, and other highly sensitive information for millions of Americans. The seemingly illicit penetration of the system under the guise of an “operational efficiency assessment” demands your immediate attention, and Congress requires answers about the purpose and scope of “DOGE’s” activity. To that end, we request your attendance at a meeting with the Democratic Caucus as soon as possible.

Although we know that you and your Department have been made aware of these concerns, we have found the Department’s written response to Finance Committee Ranking Member Wyden and Banking Committee Ranking Member Warren wholly insufficient, and even illusive, and evasive and, in many cases, the responses stand in direct conflict to Elon Musk’s public statements about the work of “DOGE.” As you know, the Bureau of the Fiscal Service’s payment system is absolutely vital to our economic and national security. Any infiltration or manipulation must be immediately addressed. Frankly, the information your Department has provided on the matter to date is woefully inadequate.

We speak for not just the caucus, but for the millions of impacted Americans, when we say this is an urgent matter and your participation is necessary for the American people to have confidence that our government will continue to function effectively and that their privacy remains protected.

We eagerly await your confirmation and are looking forward to your addressing the Senate Democratic Caucus.

We request your response by tomorrow, Thursday, February 6, 2025.

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