Top Treasury Official Steps Down After Clash with Elon Musk’s Team Over Government Payments

A senior official at the U.S. Treasury Department is stepping down after more than 30 years, following a dispute with allies of billionaire Elon Musk over access to federal payment systems.

David A. Lebryk, who has been the department’s fiscal assistant secretary, is expected to leave his position soon. His resignation comes after Musk’s team repeatedly pushed for access to government systems that control trillions of dollars in payments, including Social Security benefits, Medicare payouts, tax refunds, and federal salaries, according to The Washington Post.

Musk, despite holding no elected office, has been given a key role in Donald Trump’s administration as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The agency, a revamped version of the United States Digital Service, has been tasked with cutting government spending and reducing regulations. However, DOGE has no official authority over the Treasury, raising questions about why Musk’s team is trying to access federal payment systems.

Since the 2024 election, Musk’s allies in DOGE have reportedly been requesting control over the Bureau of the Fiscal Service’s payment system, which moves more than $6 trillion annually.

Experts warn that the system is designed to function independently, without political influence. Former senior Treasury official Mark Mazur explained, “This is a mechanical job—paying Social Security benefits, paying vendors. It’s never been used to push a partisan agenda.” He added that for it to be used politically, “bad intentions would have to be in place.”

While Musk and DOGE have not publicly explained why they want access.

Lebryk’s departure leaves questions about who will oversee the Treasury’s payment system and whether Musk’s team will succeed in gaining access. The Treasury Department has not commented on whether it will comply with DOGE’s requests.

Credit: The Washington Post