Musk’s Access to Tax Data: A Concern for the U.S. Administration

The recent revelation that Elon Musk has access to a crucial system managing tax data, Social Security, and public health insurance in the U.S. has sparked a wave of alarm. Under Musk’s direction, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created by Donald Trump, was initially intended to assist in reviewing and cutting government expenditures. However, the influence and powers granted to him have raised concerns about his role in budgetary decision-making without holding an official position or being subject to oversight.

Last Friday, the Treasury Department allowed Musk’s team access to a system that controls government payments. This means he can now access sensitive information, including the amount of income tax paid by each individual, retirees’ pensions, and payments to government contractors. This situation led a senior official responsible for the system to resign, rejecting the idea that an unelected businessman should have access to such a level of information.

Additionally, reports indicate that Marko Elez, a 25-year-old engineer working for Musk, has been granted administrator privileges in the Treasury’s payment systems, giving him the ability to unilaterally cancel government payments. It has also been revealed that Musk has gained access to public insurance contracting systems, such as Medicare and Medicaid. This concentration of power has raised concerns among political opposition figures, who warn that Musk could end up deciding who receives pensions or public assistance, stripping democratic institutions of their authority in these areas.

Musk, for his part, has publicly expressed his intention to "stop" payments to NGOs and companies he deems “wasteful.” His first action in this regard was the abrupt shutdown of USAID, the agency that promotes U.S. interests under legislative mandates.

The dangers stemming from this situation are numerous. First, Musk’s access to these systems violates laws prohibiting the type of actions he is undertaking. Several judges have already intervened, ordering the reinstatement of payments that had been blocked, reminding that the U.S. Constitution grants Congress sole authority over public spending decisions.

Even more concerning is the potential damage to the government’s credibility. If Musk can decide who receives payments and who doesn’t, control over spending decisions would fall into the hands of a businessman rather than the legal framework, Congress, or the president. This could lead to chaotic situations, especially if Musk decides to cut payments related to the national debt—a move that could trigger a global financial crisis.

Thus, Musk’s growing control over the U.S. administration is proving to be a difficult issue to assess. However, if his own statements are true and he holds the power to determine the distribution of government funds, the consequences could be deeply problematic for both the financial system and the country’s political stability.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff