Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has finally gained access to a highly sensitive federal payroll system. This system, known as the Federal Personnel and Payroll System, processes salaries for around 276,000 federal employees across different government agencies.

According to The New York Times, Musk and his team spent about two weeks trying to obtain administrative access to this payroll system. Their request faced strong resistance from senior government officials, who warned about the potential dangers of allowing them access.

In a memo, these officials highlighted several risks, including privacy concerns and the possibility of cyber threats. They stressed that such sensitive information should not be handled by individuals without proper training or qualifications.

On Friday, government employees asked DOGE staff to get a signature from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, which would officially approve the access and transfer legal responsibility to him. However, Burgum reportedly did not sign the memo.

Despite this, at least two DOGE workers were granted access to the payroll system the following day.

A spokesperson for the Interior Department stated that they are following President Trump’s orders to cut costs and improve government efficiency. The statement emphasized that their actions align with the administration’s goal of making the government more effective for the American people.

The decision to grant DOGE access to such a critical system has sparked concerns about data security and the risks of unauthorized access to personal information. It remains to be seen how this move will impact government operations in the long run.