Why Care About Musk & Crew's D.C. Computer Intrusions?

It's Only Your Private Data and Payment History at Risk

They said "It's no big deal. We're fighting government waste! We're making government more efficient, just like a business."

Does it really matter that the Congressionally unsanctioned Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is running around Washington D.C. shutting down agencies, disrupting computer systems, and firing government employees?

Newly confirmed Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent allowed Elon Musk, Akash Bobba, Luke Farritor, Ethan Shaotran, and Edward Coristine access the department's sensitive payment system.

None of the "experts" hired by Musk have any notable experience with government computer systems and the intricate control processes used to ensure changes do not disrupt daily operations for 330 million Americans.

Why is this system considered sensitive? It has your …

• Social Security Numbers, name and addresses

• IRS tax refund amounts

• Dependents names and Social Security Numbers

• Any payments received from the Federal Government

• Direct deposit accounts for tax refunds, Social Security payments, other federal program payments, the amounts, and payment schedules

• Medicare benefits

• Federal salaries

• Federal grants

The list goes on and on.

How will you be affected if payments you count on receiving from the Treasury came to an abrupt halt? What would that do to your everyday expenses and bill payments, or your grandparents payments?

The secrecy surrounding DOGE activities is disturbing. Several courts have blocked DOGE access to payment systems until full hearings can be convened. So far, our judiciary is a guard rail against unauthorized activities. How long will it hold? What clever legal tricks can be played to work around those rulings? What happens if the process is allowed to continue?

We would be remiss in assuming all will be well. Be prepared for a rough ride ahead.

Open Source Intelligence Sources - Please Read Each One

• Federal judge blocks Elon Musk’s DOGE access to critical Treasury payment system, CNN.com; Sanchez, Ray. February 8. 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/08/politics/elon-musk-doge-treasury-payment-system/index.html

• Teen on Musk’s DOGE Team Graduated from ‘The Com’. Krebs, Brian, KrebsOnSecurity.com, February 7, 2025, https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/02/teen-on-musks-doge-team-graduated-from-the-com/

• 764 (Organization), Wikipedia.org, retrieved February 8, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/764_(organization)

• DOGE Staffer Previously Fired From Cybersecurity Company for Leaking Secrets. Gizmodo.com, Novak, Matt, February 7, 2025, https://gizmodo.com/doge-staffer-previously-fired-from-cybersecurity-company-for-leaking-secrets-2000561131

• Who is part of Elon Musk's DOGE and what are they doing? National Public Radio - Heard on All Things Considered. Allyn, Bobby; Bond, Shannon; Fowler, Stephen; February 7, 2025, https://www.npr.org/2025/02/07/nx-s1-5288988/doge-elon-musk-staff-trump

• Federal judge blocks Elon Musk’s DOGE from accessing sensitive US Treasury Department material, Associated Press; Izaguirre, Anthony. February 7, 2025. https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-lawsuit-attorneys-general-5733f8985e4cf7ad5b233fddefef4d01

• WTF Is DOGE Doing in Department in Charge of Nuclear Weapons? The New Republic; Hafiz, Rashid. February 7, 2025. https://newrepublic.com/post/191319/doge-energy-department-nuclear-weapons

• America’s unfolding cybersecurity catastrophe. Medium; Blue, Violet, February 7, 2025. https://medium.com/@violetblue/americas-unfolding-cybersecurity-catastrophe-22ac481cdb9c

• The biggest breach of US government data is under way, TechCrunch.com. Whittaker, Zack. February 7, 2025. https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/07/doge-biggest-breach-of-united-states-government-data-under-way/

• DOGE will keep limited access to Treasury payments system with 2 associates having ‘read-only’ view, CNN.com. Polantz, Kailin; Sneed, Tierney. February 5, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/05/politics/doge-treasury-payments-system-access/index.html

• Identity Theft Victims Are Waiting Nearly Two Years to Receive Their Tax Refunds, Taxpayer Advocate Service, June 6, 2024. https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/news/nta-blog/identity-theft-victims-are-waiting-nearly-two-years-to-receive-their-tax-refunds/2024/06/