Reps. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) unexpectedly entered House Speaker Mike Johnson\u2019s office to confront him regarding Elon Musk\u2019s team gaining access to a Treasury Department payment system.<\/p>\n
Their intrusion occurred shortly after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arrived to discuss the implementation of President Donald Trump\u2019s tax agenda, amid growing Democratic concerns over Musk\u2019s influence in the federal government.<\/p>\n
Moore claimed that when she and Chu confronted Johnson, Bessent was not present. \u201cGwen Moore forced her way in there, and then I got to go in right behind her,\u201d Chu told reporters. \u201cShe was already confronting Speaker Johnson about Treasury Secretary Bessent and the theft of Americans\u2019 private information, tax information that should never be stolen and given to this billionaire Elon Musk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last weekend, Bessent granted access to the payment system to members of Musk\u2019s Department of Government Efficiency while meeting with House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.). This system manages trillions of dollars in tax refunds, Social Security payments, and various other government operations.<\/p>\n
The Treasury Department informed lawmakers that Musk\u2019s team currently has \u201cread-only\u201d access to the system and that their review \u201cis not resulting\u201d in any delays or suspensions of federal agency-approved disbursements.<\/p>\n
A witness to the incident condemned Chu\u2019s and Moore\u2019s actions, stating, \u201cIn the face of incredibly rude, extremely aggressive, and frankly unhinged behavior, the Speaker was more than gracious and allowed the members into his personal office to hear their concerns.\u201d The witness requested anonymity to speak freely about the matter.<\/p>\n
In response, a spokesperson for Chu disputed this characterization. \u201cShe never barged or shoved her way into anything. She politely joined the meeting already occurring, and the Speaker invited her in for a brief, civil discussion. The Secretary was not present, and she left immediately afterwards,\u201d said Chu\u2019s communication director, Graeme Crews.<\/p>\n
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt faced questions regarding whether Elon Musk had received security clearance or passed a background check. When asked by CNN\u2019s Kaitlan Collins if Musk was a special government employee, Leavitt confirmed, \u201cI can confirm he\u2019s a special government employee. I can also confirm that he has abided by all applicable federal laws. As for his security clearance, I\u2019m not sure, but I can check back with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Collins pressed further, asking if Musk had passed a background check, to which Leavitt replied, \u201cI don\u2019t know about the security clearance, but I can check.\u201d When asked if anyone on Musk\u2019s team had received security clearance, Leavitt again responded, \u201cI don\u2019t, no, but again, I can check on that for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Additionally, CNN reported that Musk\u2019s designation as a special government employee means he is \u201cnot a volunteer but also not a full-time federal employee.\u201d An unnamed source claimed that Musk had been granted \u201ca top-secret security clearance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Attorney Arthur Aidala argued on CNN last month that Musk shouldn\u2019t need a background check to work in government, citing his achievements in space exploration. Musk has vowed to bring home two astronauts stranded in space for nearly eight months, criticizing the Biden administration for not retrieving them sooner. He revealed that President Trump personally requested his assistance in rescuing astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been in space since last June on what was initially a weeklong mission.<\/p>\n
Plans to use a SpaceX capsule for their return had been in place since Biden\u2019s presidency, but the mission faced multiple delays. The two NASA pilots traveled to the International Space Station aboard a Starliner, which encountered issues, leading NASA to order its return to Earth last year.<\/p>\n
Musk stated on social media, \u201cThe @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @SpaceStation as soon as possible. We will do so,\u201d expressing frustration that the Biden administration had left them there for so long.<\/p>\n
NASA had initially planned for Wilmore and Williams to return to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule by February, but the mission was postponed to March or early April due to delays. The SpaceX capsule designated for their return is already in orbit, but the launch of the replacement crew has been delayed to ensure a smooth transition at the space station.<\/p>\n
Initially, Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy were set to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, but Ramaswamy has since withdrawn to run for governor of Ohio. Both have been vocal about the need to reduce the size and power of the federal government throughout Trump\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Reps. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) unexpectedly entered House Speaker Mike Johnson\u2019s office to confront him regarding Elon Musk\u2019s team gaining access to a Treasury… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15241,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative"],"yoast_head":"\n