Smith joins fellow Democrats in pressing for answers about Musk's actions

U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, a Minnesota Democrat and a member of the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Banking Committee, has called for Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to appear before both Committees and answer critical questions about the risk posed by what she says Elon Musk’s recent illegal infiltration of the U.S. Treasury’s sensitive payments system.

Smith joined every Senate Democrat on both committees in demanding Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Chair Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) immediately hold this hearing and give lawmakers and the American people answers.

Said Smith in a press release: “Elon Musk, an unelected billionaire whose companies have billions of dollars in federal contracts, has gained access to the U.S. government’s purse strings. He and his team, some of whom are barely out of college and have no experience in government, have breached the payment system responsible for trillions of dollars in Americans’ Social Security, Medicare benefits, tax refunds, and payments to millions of federal employees and contractors.

"The White House cannot even confirm Musk has a security clearance, yet he may have access to millions of Americans’ personal information," Smith added. "We need answers now."