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Fact check: What is the chances of DOGE getting access to the FEDS payment system?
1. Summary of the results
The chances of DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) gaining access to the Federal payment system appear significantly low at present. Multiple sources confirm that while Elon Musk's DOGE is actively attempting to gain access to Treasury Department's payment systems that control over $6 trillion in annual funds [1] [2], they face substantial resistance from senior Treasury officials [2]. Career officials like Mark Mazur have emphasized that these payment systems are designed to be mechanical and non-partisan [1], making unauthorized access highly unlikely.
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several crucial pieces of context are missing from the original question:
- DOGE is not cryptocurrency-related, but rather the Department of Government Efficiency, a newly created government entity integrated into the Executive Office of the President [3]
- The payment systems in question control over $6 trillion in annual funds [1]
- Senior Treasury officials, including David A. Lebryk, are actively opposing these access attempts [2]
- Musk's team lacks clear legal authority and congressional approval for such access [2]
- While DOGE has been integrated into the Executive Office, there are ongoing legal challenges and uncertainty about its operations [3]
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original question might lead to confusion due to several factors:
- It doesn't clarify that DOGE refers to a government department, not the cryptocurrency
- The motivations behind seeking access to these payment systems remain unclear and unexplained [2] [2]
- There are competing interests at play:
Elon Musk and the Trump administration could benefit from increased control over federal payment systems [2]
Career Treasury officials benefit from maintaining the system's non-partisan nature [1]
- Treasury Department officials view such access as inappropriate for executing partisan agendas [2]