An untraceable budget line was discovered by Elon Musk's DOGE with $4.7 trillion in Treasury payments.
A budget line with an untraceable budget line led Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to uncover $4.7 trillion in US Treasury payments.
The agency announced in a statement that the Treasury Access Symbol, which are used to describe the account the money is linked to, was missing on a number of payments the Treasury Department has made.
The TAS field was not mandatory in the federal government for about $4.7 trillion in payments, and it was often left blank, making traceability almost impossible, according to DOGE's post on X.
As of Saturday, this field is now obligatory, allowing for a better understanding of where the money is being directed.
Thanking the US Treasury for its assistance in identifying the optional field, the account went on to thank them.
The Treasury Department, which processes trillions of dollars worth of government payments every year, was one of the first departments DOGE staffers gained access to.
According to reports, Musk is now asking for access to a classified IRS system that contains the personal financial records of millions of Americans.
Through a memorandum of understanding, DOGE will have sweeping access to IRS systems, property, and datasets, which is currently being reviewed.
Of particular concern is DOGE's potential access to the Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS) - a heavily protected database used by IRS employees to review taxpayer records, update information, and issue official notices.
IRS officials have expressed strong reservations regarding the system's ability to obtain personal identification numbers, bank account details, and other sensitive financial information.
The report states that taxpayers who are wrongfully reviewed or disclosed may be entitled to financial damages, which highlights the seriousness of the potential risk posed by DOGE's request.
According to experts, it is highly unusual for political appointees to have access to IRS databases, which raises concerns about the potential misuse of taxpayer data.
Nina Olson, a former taxpayer advocate, was upfront about the potential consequences of DOGE's request.
According to The Post, the IRS has a lot of personal information.
'Someone with access to it could use it and make it public in a way, or do something with it, or share it with someone else who shares it with someone else, and your rights get violated.'
However, a senior Trump administration official defended the move, stating that DOGE's mission is to 'eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, and improve government performance to better serve the people.'
The official reiterated that the request is being conducted 'legally and with the necessary security clearances.'
