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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent orders the CFPB to stop activities, like rulemaking, communications, and litigation; in November, Musk said to “delete CFPB”

Search by Topic  —  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has shut down a wide variety of operations inside …

Bloomberg Law Evan Weinberger

Discussion

  • @hamiltonnolan Hamilton Nolan on bluesky
    A good way to understand why wealth inequality is a problem is, if some idiot says “no regulations should exist” you just laugh at him, but if that idiot has $400 billion then it's an existential crisis for America.  [embedded post]
  • @andycraig Andy Craig on bluesky
    One thing with Musk even more extreme than with Trump is he makes wild claims on twitter and nobody can really know if he's talking about something that's actually happened or just spewing his delusions.  There's a reason real governments speak through stodgy, carefully worded of…
  • @adambonin Adam Bonin on bluesky
    Elon Musk claims to have “deleted” the office in the IRS which has enabled people to file their tax returns electronically, simply, and for free.  [image]
  • @reporterev Evan Weinberger on bluesky
    Here's an update to Treasury Secretary Bessent shutting down the CFPB for now.  Of note, his email didn't mention a pause on supervision.  So as of now, that appears to be going on.  There's a lot of confusion, though. news.bloomberglaw.com/banking-law/ ...
  • @reporterev Evan Weinberger on bluesky
    In his first act as CFPB Acting Director, Treasury Secretary Bessent has basically stopped it from doing...anything really, according to an email obtained by Bloomberg Law: news.bloomberglaw.com/banking-law/ ...
  • @tonyromm Tony Romm on bluesky
    More news on a newsy day: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is going to serve as acting chief of the CFPB www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/ new...
  • @elonmusk Elon Musk on x
    @dorajfacundo @pmarca Delete CFPB. There are too many duplicative regulatory agencies.
  • @nathantankus @nathantankus on x
    EMERGENCY PIECE: It's not true that DOGE only has “read only” access to the most top secret systems at the Bureau of the Fiscal Service. They have “read AND write” access with a current employee of BFS calling “apocalyptic” [image]
  • @paulg Paul Graham on x
    Surely there's orders of magnitude more waste in the Department of Defense than USAID. But if you just show up at the Pentagon and try to push your way in and get access to every classified system, I bet there will be a good deal more resistance.
  • @jstein_wapo Jeff Stein on x
    So now we have multiple conflicting reports about what kind of access DOGE staff has to Treasury's payment systems WSJ and NYT have said DOGE's Treasury access is “read-only.” (WSJ cited person familiar & NYT cited WH spokeswoman) Wired — & @NathanTankus today, citing convo w/
  • @alex_danco Alex Danco on x
    Total spitballing here but let's say the goal looks like this: -Bessent's goal is a new Breton Woods; it isn't “graceful de-dollarization”. Trump wants dollar to stay supreme; he means it literally and seriously. Goal is a series of actions that result in a New Dollar Deal that
  • @jonahallon Jonah Allon on x
    they're literally handing dems their messaging on a silver platter. trump is raising the price of everything and making it easier for companies to defraud you
  • @dwallacewells David Wallace-Wells on x
    The agency which tech oligarchs told us just a few weeks ago was run independently and without oversight by Elizabeth Warren has had its leader fired and replaced by Trump's Treasury Secretary.
  • @iamdcinvestor @iamdcinvestor on x
    Trump putting Bessent in at CFPB and Rubio in at USAID seems like these agencies are getting shut down
  • @alexandergrieve Alexander Grieve on x
    Last-min CFPB electronic fund transfer / Reg E proposed rule that would have scoped in crypto and video game currencies now officially halted
  • @consumerbankers @consumerbankers on x
    CBA President and CEO @LindseyJCBA issued the following statement on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent serving as Acting Director of the CFPB. https://consumerbankers.com/ ... [image]
  • @drewchudson Drew Hudson on x
    This is the right approach. It's great to see Secretary Bessent selected to lead the CFPB until a new director is confirmed. Now it's time to get the Bureau back to doing its job instead of engaging in politicized power-grabs. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ ... [image]
  • @repmeuser Congressman Dan Meuser on x
    Secretary Bessent's decision to pause @CFPB activities is another step toward resetting the agency's priorities. It's time for the CFPB to refocus on its core mission: protecting consumers and fostering a financial system that remains innovative, competitive, and fair for all.
  • @ellieckaufman Ellie Kaufman on x
    Immediately after the announcement that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would take over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as acting director, CFPB staff received an email instituting a wide-reaching pause on work at the agency via @cheyennehaslett
  • @maxfieldonbanks @maxfieldonbanks on x
    I'm all for consumer protection, as is every banker I roll with, but the CFPB has acted so ideologically that they did their objective a disservice. This is the right move, imo.
  • @brendanpedersen Brendan Pedersen on x
    Top Banking Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) blasts the decision from Treasury Sec. and acting CFPB Director Bessent to halt the agency's activities this AM Warren says she's prepared to “use every tool at my disposal in the Banking Committee to hold him accountable” [ima…
  • @sfof_states @sfof_states on x
    🚨Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent named Acting Director of @CFPB. “I look forward to working with the CFPB to advance President Trump's agenda to lower costs for the American people and accelerate economic growth,” said Secretary Bessent. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ ...
  • @econliberties @econliberties on x
    🚨BREAKING: Wall St billionaire and Trump Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent just took control of the CFPB—and is now SHUTTING DOWN the watchdog agency. His stop work order also freezes CFPB's work to cap credit card rates and ban political ‘debanking.’ Quick 🧵 [image]
  • @rickclaypool Rick Claypool on x
    This is a huge gift to corporations currently facing CFPB enforcement actions, including inauguration donors Bank of America and Meta. Also includes: Capital One, Experian, JPMorgan, Transunion, Walmart, & Wells Fargo. A green light for corporate lawbreaking. [image]
  • @gardnerakayla Akayla Gardner on x
    News: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been named acting director of the @CFPB. He has ordered the agency to stop all rulemaking, communications, litigation, and other activities, per @reporterev.
  • @silvermanjacob Jacob Silverman on x
    Trump's billionaire hedge fund treasury secretary is now in charge of dismantling the CFPB, which actually goes over after big financial institutions and returns money to consumers. “staff were instructed to immediately cease much of the bureau's work” https://www.npr.org/...
  • @repcleaver Rep. Emanuel Cleaver on x
    Rohit Chopra served the @CFPB and American consumers well, fighting against junk fees and other costly corporate schemes to protect the pocketbooks of hardworking families. Considering POTUS is on the side of Big Corporations, he fired him for it. https://www.npr.org/...
  • @repgwenmoore Rep. Gwen Moore on x
    Trump & Co-President Musk fired the head of CFPB. It was created after the '08 financial crisis to protect Americans from abusive financial practices — with billions returned to victims. Kneecapping the CFPB is about allowing bad actors to steal your money efficiently.
  • @helaineolen Helaine Olen on x
    A reminder as Trump & Scott Bessent effectively shut down the CFPB: Wall Street & Big Tech don't hate the CFPB because it's an ineffective bureaucracy. They hate it because it's extraordinarily effective at protecting Americans from getting ripped off by Wall Street & Big Tech.
  • @repjayapal Rep. Pramila Jayapal on x
    The CFPB exists to protect YOUR data and interests, stand up to giant corporations, and bring BILLIONS of dollars back to the American people who are scammed out of their hard-earned money. Trump's appointee just froze the entire bureau's work. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
  • @nhegde Nidhi Hegde on x
    Bessent's first move is to tell consumers fend for yourselves. Under Chopra the @CFPB worked to deter scams, secured billions in refunds, and ensured honest businesses weren't undercut by bad actors. Under Bessent this is govt optimized for corporate criminals, not the people.
  • @cmseeberger Colin Seeberger on x
    Who immediately brought the agency to a screeching halt. Shutting down CFPB isn't about saving taxpayers money. It's about enriching the biggest banks, credit card companies, mortgage and payday lenders by letting them pick your pocket.
  • @reichlinmelnick Aaron Reichlin-Melnick on x
    Remember when Biden came into office and ordered a halt on a limited subset of ICE deportations while his administration waited to figure things out, and the entire right wing freaked out and claimed freezing enforcement actions was flagrantly illegal? Anyway!
  • @reploudermilk Rep. Barry Loudermilk on x
    I'm happy to hear the news of @USTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent's appointment as acting @CFPB chief. I look forward to working with him on needed reforms to the bureau. https://www.politico.com/...
  • @krystalball Krystal Ball on x
    They are putting the billionaire hedge funder who doesn't believe in a minimum wage at the head of the agency meant to protect consumers from scams. It's just open season now for all elite crimes.
  • @neerajka Neeraj K. Agrawal on x
    this has been halted https://www.coincenter.org/... [image]
  • @financialcmte @financialcmte on x
    🚨Chairman @RepFrenchHill: “I look forward to working with Acting Director and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to finally rein in this unaccountable agency by putting the CFPB under the appropriations process, making it a bipartisan commission, and providing appropriate
  • @mattgertz Matthew Gertz on x
    Doesn't want the CFPB providing financial protections for consumers.
  • @groundwork @groundwork on x
    CFPB has returned billions to consumers. But apparently, Trump & Bessent have a different vision: What the big banks want, the big banks get. This takeover of CFPB is bad news for consumers and good news for the corporations looking to squeeze an extra buck.
  • @senatordurbin Senator Dick Durbin on x
    The CFPB protects consumers from predatory practices & Wall Street's bad actors. Pres. Trump fired its director & appointed the Treasury Sec. who has now halted CFPB's operations. In yet another bait-and-switch tactic, this move goes against his campaign promise to lower prices.
  • @brendanpedersen Brendan Pedersen on x
    NEW: Memo from Bessent sent out to CFPB staff this morning says — halt movement on any proposed or final rules, guidance - suspend effective dates of rules - do not advance investigations / enforcement actions - no material agreements - no public communications / reports
  • @moreperfectus @moreperfectus on x
    Scott Bessent, appointed by Trump as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, is essentially attempting to shut down much of the CFPB.
  • @jchervinsky Jake Chervinsky on x
    Trump put Treasury Secretary Bessent in charge of the CFPB. His first act: “shut it down.” The CFPB is one of those DC agencies with a vaguely nice name that does exactly the opposite of its stated mission. Only Congress can eliminate the CFPB for real, but this is second best.
  • @emptywheel @emptywheel on x
    WOWOWOWOW. The richest man in the world is shutting down the organization protecting you from being cheated by your bank or credit card company. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
  • @josheidelson Josh Eidelson on x
    “Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has shut down a wide variety of operations inside the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau... Bessent ordered the CFPB to stop all rulemaking, communications, litigation, and other activities” https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ ... @reporterev
  • r/politics r on reddit
    Kinzinger to House Dems: ‘Get out there and do something’ about Musk
  • r/politics r on reddit
    Musk: I'm Closing Entire Federal Department Down Right Now
  • @elonmusk Elon Musk on x
    That group has been deleted
  • @mattlesser Matt Lesser on x
    18F isn't a far left agency but are super competent and save taxpayers vast amounts of money by doing IT in-house rather than through the expensive outside contractors that government used to use and apparently that's a bad thing now.
  • @rwpusa Richard W. Painter on x
    Then Musk is subject to the criminal financial conflict of interest statute, 18 U.S.C. § 208 which prohibits him from participating in any government matter that could affect his own financial interest.
  • @rajgoyle Raj Goyle on x
    This is an absolute corporate giveaway that screws the working class who shouldn't need to pay anyone to file their taxes. Musk has it backwards — this program was a great example of technology HELPING people. Something tells me he won't delete the program that funds SpaceX.
  • @socdoneleft @socdoneleft on x
    The IRS Direct File program let workers with simple incomes (like W2s) file taxes online, directly, for free. It saved us $12 billion in tax prep fees & time, every year. TurboTax HATED it. Elmo, an unelected bureaucrat, just “DELETED” it. Why? A tech bro called it “far-left”. [i…
  • @andrewkrok @andrewkrok on x
    since the techno-libertarians took control of 18F, they decided to change the name to 14F, which libertarians find *way* more palatable for some reason
  • @chrismegerian Chris Megerian on x
    Elon Musk is officially a “special government employee,” White House official confirms to @AP. His status has been a source of mystery even as he moves swiftly to overhaul and downsize the federal government. https://apnews.com/...
  • @meidastouch @meidastouch on x
    Elon Musk is now bragging about getting rid of the team that put together the ‘Direct File’ tax filing system, which allows citizens to easily file their taxes for free. Direct File is a big target of the for-profit tax prep industry including corporations like Intuit and H&R [im…
  • @ashleyschapitl Ashley Schapitl on x
    PSA: IRS Direct File is up and running! You can save time and money by filing your taxes for free right now. https://directfile.irs.gov/ The IRS manages Direct File, not the GSA's 18F.
  • @jdcmedlock James Medlock on x
    [image]
  • @besttrousers Matt Darling on x
    It's not good when successful initiative are piloted, work well, and then are pulled afterwards. We should scale up stuff that works.
  • @sturgeons_law @sturgeons_law on x
    A few months ago, Musk floated the idea of creating a new govt tax-filing app (even though the Biden admin had recently created the direct file system). Now, he seemingly endorses the view that the govt doing this is bad (which was what Repubs originally said about direct file). …
  • @ericgeller Eric Geller on x
    As Musk touts the elimination of the government's 18F digital-modernization team and its Direct File program, the replies to his X post are full of people saying that he made a mistake and they liked Direct File. [image]
  • @tszzl Roon on x
    @elonmusk Direct File seems like a good thing
  • @joshtpm Josh Marshall on x
    wow, you deleted the office that allows people to file their taxes for free instead of paying turbotax. great work, clown.
  • @kylascan Kyla Scanlon on x
    @elonmusk DirectFile is a pretty good thing that actually reduces the bloat that companies like TurboTax create!
  • @buddingmonkey Andrew Eiche on x
    18F wasn't a “far left” government office. It was a powerful answer to the question “why can't government be good at tech?” This is a big loss for the American people. An important cog in making their lives materially better is gone. [image]
  • @alx @alx on x
    18F, the far left government wide computer office that was recently taken over by allies of @elonmusk, is also the same agency that built Elizabeth Warren's “Direct File” tax program. Direct File puts the government in charge of preparing peoples tax returns for them. 🤔🧐 [image]
  • @angry_staffer @angry_staffer on x
    Someone want to explain to me why Direct File had to die? Besides the fact that it was Elizabeth Warren's idea and it actually helped people file their taxes for free?
  • @flyosity Mike Rundle on x
    Elon saying 18F “has been deleted” is extremely sad. The group was stood up during Obama's 2nd term to modernize and rebuild aging gov't systems using web standards and modern web stacks. Instead of spending millions on bloated outside contracts, 18F was scrappy and cheap. [image…
  • @mattyglesias Matthew Yglesias on x
    The Slow Boring tax situation is too complicated for Direct File, but I don't really see making it harder to file taxes as doing much to improve government efficiency. [image]
  • @ctjlewis Lewis on x
    what? Direct File? that wasn't about the govt doing your taxes for you, that was about not having to use TurboTax. wasn't it?
  • @dylanmatt Dylan Matthews on x
    Just imagine: the government having access to your tax returns!
  • @nateberkopec Nate Berkopec on x
    18F was an amazing group full of amazing people that accomplished a lot of great things for American taxpayers. Probably the biggest was https://login.gov/, but basically they were providing modern, SF-startup-level tech contracting to other gov't agencies. Sad to see it go
  • @dancow @dancow on x
    Even Elon's bootlickers know how asinine it is to delete a program that allowed people to file their taxes for free instead of paying Turbotax to do it [image]
  • @joshtpm Josh Marshall on x
    These are lies. I know for a fact that 18F has not been “deleted” whatever that means. Confirmed this today. They're all still on the job. Second, the program here is the one that allows you to file your taxes for free. So you don't have to pay Turbo Tax unless you want to.
  • @tim_walz Tim Walz on x
    Elon Musk is a terrible president.
  • @growing_daniel Daniel on x
    Why is direct file a bad thing
  • @coryfromphilly @coryfromphilly on x
    Will tech bros explain to me how the “cracked” DOGE kids are super duper smart for ending the Direct File system?
  • r/france r on reddit
    Can anyone stop President Musk?
  • r/esist r on reddit
    Can anyone stop President Musk?  A republic, if you can keep it.
  • r/NewPatriotism r on reddit
    A Coup Is In Progress In America
  • r/politics r on reddit
    The ‘Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly’ of the United States Government
  • @dell Dell Cameron on bluesky
    Here's the WIRED piece from 1AM, reporting that — contrary to White House claims — a 25-year-old Musk lackey has obtained direct access to Treasury Department systems responsible for nearly all payments made by the US government:  —  www.wired.com/story/elon-m...  [embedded post]
  • @lizthegrey.com Liz Fong-Jones on bluesky
    oh man I look forward to the intelligence breach that occurs when the CIA & Pentagon black budget is put through an insecure “AI” system.  [embedded post]
  • @tyleraking.com Tyler King on bluesky
    He is a walking, talking, Nazi salute-throwing nonsense machine.  As dangerous as he is stupid.  AI is a drill poking holes in a boat.  It makes everything worse.  And in the hands of a ketamine-snorting sociopath, it is going to sink this nation.  [embedded post]
  • @brbarrett Brian Barrett on bluesky
    According to the former Tesla engineer now in charge a lot of the government's tech services, the future is an “AI-first” agency that runs like a tech startup.  From @makenakelly.bsky.social www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
  • @timmarchman Tim Marchman on bluesky
    NEW: Former Tesla guy now running a GSA agency told staff at a meeting today that he envisions it as “AI first,” thinks much government work can be automated, sees privacy laws as “roadblocks,” and explains young engineers go unidentified so their lives aren't upended.  From @mak…
  • @kateconger.com Kate Conger on bluesky
    At Twitter, a Musk ally named Steve Davis ran a “zero based budgeting” effort and insisted Twitter employees justify every dollar of spending.  And guess where “zero based budgeting” has now emerged as a mandate? [image]
  • @kellymakena Makena Kelly on x
    SCOOP: Elon Musk Ally Tells Staff ‘AI-First’ Is the Future of Key Government Agency How a Tesla engineer wants the Technology Transformation Service to operate like a “startup software company.” https://www.wired.com/...
  • @johnstempinnpr John Stempin on x
    The achilles heel of start up tech is infosec. In the commercial world, securing access and databases is generally done late in the process or an afterthought leaving it with exploits (See: Snowden, Edward). Ironclad government security can't be rushed. https://www.wired.com/...
  • @jdabre11 Justin on x
    The government is not a goddamn startup. I'm so tired of this utter moron.
  • r/politics r on reddit
    Elon Musk Ally Tells Staff ‘AI-First’ Is the Future of Key Government Agency
  • @joshtpm Josh Marshall on bluesky
    New Exclusive building on Wired's reporting: Musk operatives have already pushed live to production extensive code changes to the Treasury Department payment system which makes 95% of fed govs payments. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/musk- ...
  • @joshtpm Josh Marshall on bluesky
    NEW: Marko Elez, Musk operative at Treasury, not only isn't limited to read only access (has admin privileges) but has already made extensive code changes to the Treasury Dept payment system. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/musk- ...
  • @brandonfriedman Brandon Friedman on bluesky
    These fascist idiots are gonna fuck around and start a civil war
  • @leahfeiger Leah Feiger on bluesky
    NEW: A 25-year-old with ties to Elon Musk has direct access and admin privileges to the federal payment system.  —  w/ @telliotter.bsky.social, @dmehro.bsky.social, and @timmarchman.bsky.social:
  • @pkrugman Paul Krugman on bluesky
    Like the typical bully, Trump turned tail on tariffs when confronted.  But the domestic assault on rule of law continues. paulkrugman.substack.com/p/what-the- m...
  • @martinsfp @martinsfp on bluesky
    Corruption potential: off the charts [embedded post]
  • @dell Dell Cameron on bluesky
    i went to sleep for like two hours... and they're publishing scoops [embedded post]
  • @molly.wiki Molly White on bluesky
    credit where credit is due to Wired for doing some great reporting on this over the last few days [embedded post]
  • @jilldlawrence Jill Lawrence on bluesky
    This is unreal.  Trump and Musk have put $6 trillion and national security at risk and no matter how fast we get these people out of there, will these systems ever be secure again?  And how can we make sure Americans understand what is happening here? www.wired.com/story/elon-m..…
  • @daithaigilbert David Gilbert on x
    WIRED continues to lead the reporting on what's happening inside the US government right now. A 25-year-old Musk acolyte now has admin privileges over the code that controls Social Security payments, tax returns, and more. https://www.wired.com/...
  • @public_citizen @public_citizen on x
    BREAKING: We are suing @USTreasury for its unlawful disclosure of personal & financial information to Elon Musk's DOGE. This violation puts sensitive information about millions of Americans at risk.
  • @mattgoldstein26 Matthew Goldstein on x
    Wired is doing some excellent journalism https://www.wired.com/...
  • @stephaniekelton Stephanie Kelton on x
    A whole new ball game. “You could do anything with these privileges.” https://www.wired.com/... [image]
  • @marymcnamara @marymcnamara on x
    The person per Wired is Marco Elez. “has direct control over a Treasury system disbursements...He does not...have “read only” access, but high-level admin privileges on a mainframe housing all the code.” https://www.wired.com/...
  • @wired @wired on x
    “You could do anything with these privileges,” says one source with knowledge of the system, who adds that they cannot conceive of a reason that anyone would need them for purposes of simply hunting down fraudulent payments or analyzing disbursement flow. https://www.wired.com/..…
  • @samfbiddle Sam Biddle on x
    “Dox” used to mean “my social security number and home address were posted on 4chan” and now it's “naming the people administering the federal government.” Like ‘disinformation’ before it, rendered completely and hilariously meaningless by overuse
  • @wired @wired on x
    The Bureau of the Fiscal Service is a sleepy part of the Treasury Department. It's also where, sources say, a 25-year-old engineer tied to Elon Musk has admin privileges over the code that controls Social Security payments, tax returns, and more. https://www.wired.com/...
  • @ingridlunden Ingrid on x
    The fragility of our democratic systems laid bare.
  • @wsbgnl @wsbgnl on x
    https://www.wired.com/... [image]
  • r/inthenews r on reddit
    A 25-Year-Old With Elon Musk Ties Has Direct Access to the Federal Payment System
  • r/TrueReddit r on reddit
    A 25-Year-Old With Elon Musk Ties Has Direct Access to the Federal Payment System
  • r/rutgers r on reddit
    A 25-Year-Old Rutgers Alum Has Direct Access to the Federal Payment System
  • r/politics r on reddit
    A 25-Year-Old With Elon Musk Ties Has Direct Access to the Federal Payment System
  • @jljacobson Jodi Jacobson on bluesky
    @schumer.senate.gov Is this the mistake you are waiting for to act?  Because it seems like a BFD to me, to quote Joe Biden.  —  www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
  • @timmarchman Tim Marchman on bluesky
    NEW: A 25-year-old who's worked for Elon Musk companies now has direct control over a Treasury system disbursements from which amount to a fifth of the US economy.  He does not, our sources say, have “read only” access, but high-level admin privileges on a mainframe housing all t…
  • @murshedz @murshedz on bluesky
    “The Bureau of the Fiscal Service is a sleepy part of the Treasury Department.  It's also where, sources say, a 25-year-old engineer tied to Elon Musk has admin privileges over the code that controls Social Security payments, tax returns, and more.”  —  Absolutely insane.
  • @wired.com @wired.com on bluesky
    Two of those sources say that Elez's privileges include the ability not just to read but to write code on two of the most sensitive systems in the US government: The Payment Automation Manager (PAM) and Secure Payment System (SPS) at the Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS).
  • @lolgop @lolgop on bluesky
    Nobody's going to go along with me calling them Elon's “Blood Boys,” right?
  • @mmasnick Mike Masnick on bluesky
    Just pointing out that Elon Musk, government employee, removing content from ExTwitter criticizing government employees, seems like the kind of First Amendment issue that old Elon Musk was concerned about: www.techdirt.com/2025/02/03/ m...
  • @jayapal.house.gov Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on bluesky
    Treasury's payment system ensures that Social Security checks, Medicare payments, and more go out.  —  Now, Elon Musk is sticking his hands in there and firing anyone in his way.  —  He's trying to steal from the American people.  We'll keep fighting to stop him.  —  www.nytimes.…
  • @rincewind.run Micah on bluesky
    one of the defining features of the techbro dipshits now running the USA is their absolute refusal to consider that anyone, ever, has thought about problems before them  —  time after time they come in, propose a solution that was rejected years ago because it's stupid, and call …
  • @molly.wiki Molly White on bluesky
    an unelected billionaire storming into US agencies, installing his unqualified and unapproved lackeys, purging civil servants, seizing access to sensitive data and payments, unilaterally eliminating federal agencies: fine  —  identifying the lackeys: illegal [images]
  • @joshuajfriedman.com Joshua J. Friedman on bluesky
    “Defendants' actions in this case potentially run roughshod over a ‘bulwark of the Constitution’ by interfering with Congress's appropriation of federal funds.”  OMB “attempted to wrest the power of the purse away from the only branch of government entitled to wield it.”  [image]
  • @repbarragan Congresswoman Nanette Barragán on bluesky
    It's alarming & dangerous to have unelected billionaire Elon Musk & his gang of thieves gain illegal access to sensitive fed'l payment systems—like Social Security, & personal & health info of fed'l employees & millions of American citizens.  Democrats will fight these unpreceden…
  • @kinosminion @kinosminion on bluesky
    And without vetting it, what other systems may have their security degraded, or be further exposed to compromise, because of this action?
  • @martinsfp @martinsfp on bluesky
    “'They have access to the code itself, which means they can make updates to anything that they want,' the staffer explained.”  [embedded post]
  • @carbajal.house.gov Rep. Salud Carbajal on bluesky
    Imagine the outrage if Joe Biden had given an unelected billionaire special access to government systems & data that could threaten assistance & personal information for millions.  —  I will work in Congress to ensure the law is upheld and Americans are protected.
  • @repkevinmullin Rep. Kevin Mullin on bluesky
    Deeply concerned Elon Musk & DOGE got access to Treasury data & Social Security & Medicare payment systems.  Getting a ton of calls from residents concerned about their personal data being shared with an unelected billionaire.  I'm committed to protecting against this.  —  www.ny…
  • @neal.house.gov Rep. Richard Neal on bluesky
    1/ To all of my constituents that have called my office regarding an unelected billionaire having access to sensitive federal payment systems and confidential tax information, I hear you.  —  www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/u...
  • @calebecarma Caleb Ecarma on bluesky
    New: Musk and his minions have illegally installed a commercial server to control federal HR databases that contain sensitive personal information, including SSNs, home addresses, and medical histories, according to an OPM staffer www.muskwatch.com/p/musk-assoc...
  • @nathantankus Nathan Tankus on bluesky
    There is nothing more important on the entire planet than getting Elon Musk & DOGE out of the BFS & allowing career civil service employees to run the Treasury's internal payments system without capricious and self-serving interference from billionaires and their allies
  • @juddlegum Judd Legum on bluesky
    11. There are acute security risks.  “China and Russia are literally trying to hack us every day and we just gave all this data over to somebody that's not been properly vetted,” an OPM staffers said.  “It's not just Amanda Scales, it's all the [political appointees] in that offi…
  • @tonytellez Tony Tellez on bluesky
    but but her email server......
  • @juddlegum Judd Legum on bluesky
    9. Among the databases Musk's team now controls:  —  USAJobs (Social Security numbers, home addresses, employment records of anyone who applies for a federal job)  —  EHRI (SS #, birthdate, salaries, addresses, job descriptions, disciplinary history of federal workers)  —  HI (Pr…
  • @juddlegum Judd Legum on bluesky
    10. A new server used to control these databases has been placed in a conference room that Musk's team is using as a command center.  An OPM staffer described the server as a piece of commercial hardware they believed was not obtained through the proper federal procurement proces…
  • @juddlegum Judd Legum on bluesky
    8. One of the OPM staffers received an email from the agency's new leadership instructing them to give Musk's team “access [to] the system as an admin user” and “code read and write permissions.”  —  The level of access is unprecedented.
  • @juddlegum Judd Legum on bluesky
    5. Edward Coristine, another 2022 high school graduate and former software engineering intern at Musk's Neuralink, has also been given access to the databases.
  • @juddlegum Judd Legum on bluesky
    4. Among those with unprecedented access is University of California Berkeley student Akash Bobba, a software engineer who graduated high school less than three years ago.  He previously interned at Meta and Palantir, a technology firm chaired by Musk-ally Peter Thiel.
  • @juddlegum Judd Legum on bluesky
    2. According to two members of OPM staff with direct knowledge, the Musk team running OPM has the ability to extract information from databases that store medical histories, personally identifiable information, workplace evaluations, and other private data.
  • @juddlegum Judd Legum on bluesky
    3. The staffers spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly and feared professional retaliation.  Musk Watch also reviewed internal OPM correspondence confirming that expansive access to the database was provided to Musk associates.
  • @juddlegum Judd Legum on bluesky
    1. BREAKING  —  Several of Elon Musk's associates installed at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) — including two recent high school graduates — have received unprecedented access to federal human resources databases containing sensitive personal information for millions of…
  • @juddlegum Judd Legum on bluesky
    Musk claims the authority to personally destroy an independent federal agency.  [image]
  • @senadamschiff Adam Schiff on threads
    I support this.  Elon Musk cannot dismantle USAID without an act of Congress.  Democrats must use every lever at our disposal to block his illegal takeover and shutdown of an essential government agency.
  • @jarvis_best Jarvis on x
    Like five people who understand how computers work show up in DC and within two weeks restructure the entire system that's been in place since WWII that's wild
  • @canderaid @canderaid on x
    private servers for sensitive government information are fine now
  • @kylebrussell Kyle Russell on x
    We didn't use personnel who have gone through the (broken, deters actual talent) hiring process! And they just... used a server they wanted! It wasn't correct procured!! And there wasn't an IMPACT ASSESSMENT!!!? c'mon y'all
  • @hackingbutlegal Jackie Singh on x
    Musk with admin rights, third party unvetted servers, “code read and write permissions”. Cybersecurity is dead at OPM. https://www.muskwatch.com/...
  • @calebecarma Caleb Ecarma on x
    New by me: Musk and his minions have illegally installed a commercial server to control federal HR databases that contain sensitive personal information, including SSNs, home addresses, and medical histories, according to an OPM staffer https://www.muskwatch.com/... [image]
  • @juddlegum Judd Legum on x
    1. BREAKING Several Musk associates installed at OPM — including two recent high school graduates — have received unprecedented access to federal human resources databases containing sensitive personal information for millions of federal employees. 🧵
  • @bakari_sellers Bakari Sellers on x
    This is literally a crime. Attorneys General from across the country should bring suits and criminal charges against those illegally accessing our personal data.
  • @juddlegum Judd Legum on x
    2. According to two members of OPM staff with direct knowledge, the Musk team running OPM can now extract information from databases that store medical histories, personally identifiable information, workplace evaluations, and other private data https://www.muskwatch.com/...
  • @josephpatrice Joe Patrice on x
    Remember when putting emails about risotto on a private server was a big deal?
  • @stealthygeek Patrick S. Tomlinson on x
    This is the largest data theft in history. Arrest them immediately.
  • @tnoquoproquid @tnoquoproquid on x
    gonna be real, elon taking every alleged dem scandal from the past 10 years and doing a bizarro, massively inflated version of it is a great bit. the general shrug of disinterest from the mainstream DC press makes it even better.
  • @mattgertz Matthew Gertz on x
    A private... server?
  • @sarah_micheleg Sarah on x
    [image]
  • @slisker Sam Lisker on x
    Senator Wyden: “The ‘Musk Hatchet Brigade’ has infiltrated a gold mine of data that every foreign spy and every corrupt actor would love to see. It is a prescription for nightmares.” [image]
  • @victorshi2020 Victor Shi on x
    THIS is the fire I want to see from every Dem: “Elon Musk, you may have illegally seized power over financial systems of the Treasury but you don't control money of American people. Congress does that. We don't have a 4th branch of gov called ‘Elon Musk.’” [video]
  • @chadpergram Chad Pergram on x
    Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) on Musk/DOGE accessing Treasury payment information: These are incompetent people. They don't care about the damage they're doing. We're one step away from economic catastrophe
  • r/AnythingGoesNews r on reddit
    Elon Musk Installs Illegal Server to Seize All Federal Workers' Data
  • r/antiwork r on reddit
    I'm a Federal Worker.  Elon Musk's Government Data Heist Is the Entire Ballgame.
  • r/Fuckthealtright r on reddit
    I'm a Federal Worker.  Elon Musk's Government Data Heist Is the Entire Ballgame.
  • r/economicCollapse r on reddit
    I'm a Federal Worker.  Elon Musk's Government Data Heist Is the Entire Ballgame.
  • r/Futurism r on reddit
    Elon Musk Installs Illegal Server to Seize All Federal Workers' Data
  • r/the_everything_bubble r on reddit
    Elon Musk Says Regulations Should Be ‘Default Gone’
  • r/Foodforthought r on reddit
    Elon Musk Says Regulations Should Be ‘Default Gone’
  • r/KeepOurNetFree r on reddit
    Musk Shows Us What Actual Government Censorship On Social Media Looks Like
  • r/politics r on reddit
    Musk Shows Us What Actual Government Censorship On Social Media Looks Like
  • r/politics r on reddit
    Elon Musk Suggests Getting Rid Of All Regulations In Midnight Call
  • r/AnythingGoesNews r on reddit
    I'm a Federal Worker.  Elon Musk's Government Data Heist Is the Entire Ballgame.
  • r/uspolitics r on reddit
    Elon Musk Installs Illegal Server to Seize All Federal Workers' Data
  • r/feddiscussion r on reddit
    I'm a Federal Worker.  Elon Musk's Government Data Heist Is the Entire Ballgame.
  • r/usajobs r on reddit
    Musk has control of USA jobs to say the least
  • r/politics r on reddit
    Elon Musk Makes His Most Terrifying Power Grab Yet: Elon Musk and his DOGE henchmen are using an illegal server to seize all federal workers' private data.
  • r/politics r on reddit
    I'm a Federal Worker.  Elon Musk's Government Data Heist Is the Entire Ballgame.
  • r/solarpunk r on reddit
    Federal Workers Block Doors of Admin Building Over Elon Musk Data Breach
  • r/Political_Revolution r on reddit
    Federal Workers Block Doors of Admin Building Over Elon Musk Data Breach.  “A massive intrusion of this scale taken against a system of secure government computer networks is unprecedented.”
  • r/IronFrontUSA r on reddit
    Federal Workers Block Doors of Admin Building Over Elon Musk Data Breach |  DCMediaGroup
  • r/antiwork r on reddit
    Federal Workers Block Doors of Admin Building Over Elon Musk Data Breach - DCMediaGroup.  Fuck Trump and Apartheid Clyde
  • r/TheSecondTerm r on reddit
    Federal Workers Block Doors of Admin Building Over Elon Musk Data Breach - DCMediaGroup
  • r/behindthebastards r on reddit
    Federal Workers Block Doors of Admin Building Over Elon Musk Data Breach
  • r/inthenews r on reddit
    Federal Workers Block Doors of Admin Building Over Elon Musk Data Breach.  “A massive intrusion of this scale taken against a system of secure government computer networks is unprecedented.”
  • r/washingtondc r on reddit
    Federal Workers Block Doors of Admin Building Over Elon Musk Data Breach