Jonathan Swan

Exactly. And then Musk goes further and starts targeting other departments. So where does he start? Musk began as a matter of priority with the Treasury Department. His team, and this goes back to December during the transition, but they became fixated on the payment system for the entire federal government that literally distributes more than $5 trillion a year in federal spending.

So just imagine... millions of American social security details and personal details, a very, very closely guarded system, usually monitored by career civil servants who are very experienced. And this came to a head last week when a top career official at Treasury resisted giving Musk's representatives access to the federal payment system. He just said no.

So just imagine... millions of American social security details and personal details, a very, very closely guarded system, usually monitored by career civil servants who are very experienced. And this came to a head last week when a top career official at Treasury resisted giving Musk's representatives access to the federal payment system. He just said no.

He just said, no, this is not going to happen. I don't agree with this. And he was threatened with administrative leave and then retired. So all this happens on Friday. And then the Treasury Secretary Scott Besant approved access for the Musk team to the payment system.

He just said, no, this is not going to happen. I don't agree with this. And he was threatened with administrative leave and then retired. So all this happens on Friday. And then the Treasury Secretary Scott Besant approved access for the Musk team to the payment system.

That's right. And when we talk to former senior Treasury officials, they can't remember of an instance ever when this has happened. And there are understandable concerns that an intrusion into the system by outsiders, such as Musk's team, could lead to critical government obligations going unpaid from the missed benefit payments to even more dramatic consequences.

That's right. And when we talk to former senior Treasury officials, they can't remember of an instance ever when this has happened. And there are understandable concerns that an intrusion into the system by outsiders, such as Musk's team, could lead to critical government obligations going unpaid from the missed benefit payments to even more dramatic consequences.

Now, very important to note, the White House has said on the record now, it took a while for us to get clarity on this, that the access they were granted was quote unquote, read only. At least that's what it is now. Meaning the Musk allies who are now treasury officials can read and monitor these payments, but can't alter them.

Now, very important to note, the White House has said on the record now, it took a while for us to get clarity on this, that the access they were granted was quote unquote, read only. At least that's what it is now. Meaning the Musk allies who are now treasury officials can read and monitor these payments, but can't alter them.

There's two parts to this. So we've talked to a lot of people who Musk has talked to privately within the administration. His theory of government is the way to control government is to control the computers. So he wants to get access to the computers that house the critical data within the government, including all the personnel that are on the federal payroll.

There's two parts to this. So we've talked to a lot of people who Musk has talked to privately within the administration. His theory of government is the way to control government is to control the computers. So he wants to get access to the computers that house the critical data within the government, including all the personnel that are on the federal payroll.

and also to get access to the pipes that distribute the money. And Musk has told administration officials that he thinks they could actually balance the federal budget if they eliminate all the fraudulent payments that are going out to fake people. There's no evidence to support that statement that I'm aware of.

and also to get access to the pipes that distribute the money. And Musk has told administration officials that he thinks they could actually balance the federal budget if they eliminate all the fraudulent payments that are going out to fake people. There's no evidence to support that statement that I'm aware of.

But to be fair to Musk, there are billions upon billions of dollars in improper payments that go out. There was a government accountability office estimate that the government made something like $236 billion in improper payments during the 2023 fiscal year. Most of those were overpayments. This is to different people around the country, social security, what have you.

But to be fair to Musk, there are billions upon billions of dollars in improper payments that go out. There was a government accountability office estimate that the government made something like $236 billion in improper payments during the 2023 fiscal year. Most of those were overpayments. This is to different people around the country, social security, what have you.

That's a lot of money, to be clear. It's a lot of money. And there is potential for cost savings here. But I mean, the federal deficit for 2024 was almost $2 trillion. So Musk is of the view that the government is spending vast amounts of money that is wasteful, that is fraudulent. And in his sort of platonic ideal, his engineers would just be able to cut off these payments that are going out and

That's a lot of money, to be clear. It's a lot of money. And there is potential for cost savings here. But I mean, the federal deficit for 2024 was almost $2 trillion. So Musk is of the view that the government is spending vast amounts of money that is wasteful, that is fraudulent. And in his sort of platonic ideal, his engineers would just be able to cut off these payments that are going out and

And the question then is, okay, well, what then? Because this is money appropriated by Congress, and it's not actually up to Elon Musk to unilaterally with his team direct what payments go out and what payments stay in.

And the question then is, okay, well, what then? Because this is money appropriated by Congress, and it's not actually up to Elon Musk to unilaterally with his team direct what payments go out and what payments stay in.

Yeah, and I don't need to editorialize or speak in my own words on this. I mean, just listen to the people involved in this. You know, Russell Vogt, who served in Trump's first administration, and he's his choice again to lead the Office of Management and Budget.