US Treasury Employs Individuals Linked to Department of Government Efficiency

According to sources, the US Treasury has hired Tom Krause, CEO of Cloud Software Group Inc., and Marko Elez, an engineer with past experience at SpaceX and X, both with ties to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Official Roles and Responsibilities

Krause and Elez occupy offices within the Treasury Department, utilizing agency email addresses and possessing clearance for accessing secure, unclassified Treasury information. Their specific roles remain unclear to many department staff.

Interaction with Treasury Staff and Infrastructure

Since joining, the duo has actively pursued meetings with staff involved in managing government payment systems and databases. They recently visited a federal facility in Kansas City to interact with staff responsible for the payment system.

Access to Sensitive Information

Sources indicate that Krause and Elez sought access to the underlying code for the payment system, raising concerns among Treasury staff due to the critical nature of this infrastructure within the US financial system. It remains unknown if they have obtained direct access to the code and their reasons for seeking it.

CEO Status of Tom Krause

It is unclear if Krause has relinquished his CEO position at Cloud Software Group to pursue his Treasury role or if he is concurrently fulfilling both positions.

Commentary from Former Treasury Secretary

Former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers expressed mixed feelings about the situation, stating that utilizing outside expertise to improve non-modern government systems could be beneficial but cautioned against potential violations of appropriation laws or targeted beneficiaries.

Trump's Oversight Role

President Trump asserted that Elon Musk, leader of the DOGE initiative, requires Treasury approval for federal payments oversight. He emphasized that approval would be granted when appropriate.

Importance of Treasury Secretary's Role

Summers emphasized the crucial responsibility of the Treasury Secretary in ensuring the integrity of government finance and expressed hope that Secretary Bessent would fulfill this obligation.