Musk’s DOGE blocked from Treasury access as government agrees to implement financial reforms

A judge blocks Musk’s DOGE from Treasury access, but government adopts key financial reforms.

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues to generate debate as a federal judge blocked his team’s access to the U.S. Treasury Department’s payment system. Despite this setback, Musk announced that the Treasury has agreed to implement several of his proposed reforms aimed at improving financial oversight.

According to Daily Mail, DOGE, an initiative launched in collaboration with President Donald Trump, has been restructuring various government agencies, including efforts to cut spending and shutter departments. Last week, Musk and Trump reached an agreement to close the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and terminate its 10,000 employees.

Musk condemned the judge’s decision as unreasonable, arguing that his access to the Treasury’s secure system was necessary to conduct audits and prevent wasteful government spending. The Treasury’s payment system processes $6 trillion annually and contains sensitive tax information for millions of Americans. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had granted Musk’s team access on January 31, just three days after taking office, but the judge’s ruling has now halted that decision.

While these reforms are set to be implemented, Musk has also raised alarming concerns about existing financial mismanagement. The Treasury Department has agreed to require categorization codes for all federal payments to enhance auditing, mandate explanations for payments upon approval, and regularly update the "do-not-pay list" to prevent fraudulent disbursements.

Musk also alleged that over $100 billion in government entitlement payments are sent annually to individuals without Social Security numbers, estimating fraudulent claims at $1 billion per week. Calling the situation deeply flawed, he criticized past Treasury practices for prioritizing minimal complaints over preventing fraud.

As legal battles over DOGE’s role continue, Musk’s reforms and their long-term impact remain a subject of national scrutiny.