Young Engineer Linked to Elon Musk Holds Critical Government Payment Power

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A 25-year-old engineer named Marko Elez, previously employed at two of Elon Musk's companies, has reportedly gained administrative access to sensitive Treasury Department systems that manage crucial U.S. government payments, according to three sources cited by WIRED. Elez possesses the capability to both read and write code within the Payment Automation Manager and Secure Payment System at the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, which oversee over $5.45 trillion in annual disbursements, including Social Security and tax returns.

Concerns have been raised about the implications of his access, as it could theoretically allow for unauthorized alterations to federal payment processes. "You could do anything with these privileges," said one source familiar with the system. Though Musk's Department of Government Efficiency was believed to have only read-only access to these systems, claims suggest Elez is equipped with privileges typically reserved for administrators.

The potential for misuse has alarmed Senate Democrats, with Senator Chuck Schumer expressing fears that funds for essential programs could be jeopardized.

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