Representative Gabe Vasquez Demands Answers from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) joined 154 House colleagues in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressing deep concern that an un-elected official, Elon Musk, and his team have gained access to the federal government’s payments system. The system includes highly sensitive information about hundreds of millions of Americans related to their Social Security and Medicare benefits and tax refunds, raising serious questions about privacy, financial security, and potential conflicts of interest.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

“This system is responsible for delivering trillions in Social Security and Medicare benefits, tax refunds, and payments to government contractors,” the lawmakers wrote. “This action follows earlier reports that you removed an essential nonpartisan career Treasury official, who has played a critical role in preventing the United States from defaulting on its debt, due to his opposition to Mr. Musk’s actions. These recent developments raise serious questions about your ability to fulfill the essential functions of your role as Treasury Secretary and to protect the economic strength and security of the United States.”

The U.S. Treasury Department's Bureau of Fiscal Service manages the government’s payment system, handling trillions of dollars each year for Social Security and Medicare benefits, tax refunds, and payments to government contractors. This system holds sensitive information about millions of Americans, such as Social Security numbers and business financial records. Secretary Bessent recently removed the Bureau’s top career official, who had played a key role in preventing the U.S. from defaulting on its debt, and allowed Musk and his allies to take control. The letter raises serious concerns about Musk’s potential conflicts of interest, efforts to cut Social Security and Medicare, and role in the recent federal funding freeze.

Rep. Vasquez supported the Social Security Fairness Act, which was recently signed into law. Rep. Vasquez remains committed to protecting New Mexicans’ Social Security and Medicare benefits, protecting Americans’ privacy, and protecting our nation’s financial systems financial security from potential political interference or misuse of taxpayer dollars.

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