Reps. Judy Chu of California and Gwen Moore of Wisconsin reportedly challenged House Speaker Mike Johnson following reports that Elon Musk’s team had gained access to a Treasury Department payment system. The system, which processes large-scale federal transactions, was allegedly accessed after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Johnson to discuss fiscal policy. Chu and Moore raised serious concerns about the potential exposure of Americans’ financial information and called for greater transparency regarding the situation.

Sources indicate that Musk’s team had “read-only” access to the Treasury platform, meaning they could view but not alter data. The reported confrontation between the lawmakers and Speaker Johnson was described by one observer as tense, though Chu’s spokesperson rejected that characterization, emphasizing that her participation in the meeting focused on accountability and oversight rather than conflict. The lawmakers underscored the need for clear boundaries between private entities and sensitive government systems.

At a subsequent press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt fielded questions about Musk’s security clearance and his role as a special government employee. She acknowledged that there was uncertainty surrounding his clearance status and background check. The episode has intensified debate about data security, government oversight, and the growing role of private sector figures in federal operations, prompting renewed calls for stricter safeguards to protect public information and ensure transparency in government-technology partnerships.