Protecting Treasury Payment System

Floor Speech

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Mr. MIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because Elon Musk, an unelected billionaire, is repeatedly and blatantly breaking the law, including by usurping the legislative and appropriations authority expressly reserved to Congress.

Musk has claimed powers that even the President himself does not hold, including the authority to ``delete'' agencies created and funded by this body.

Among other things, he has gained control over the Treasury's payment system, the mechanism for processing all payments made by the Federal Government.

Musk promised to cut $2 trillion from the Federal budget. The entire domestic discretionary budget is only $917 billion, which means the only way Musk can achieve this promise is through massive cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

Musk now has the ability to shut off Social Security and Medicare payments with the flip of a switch. Controlling our payment systems also gives Elon Musk access to the personal information of every American who has ever received a Social Security, tax refund, or other government payment. Why does he need this information? What safeguards are there against abuse? We don't know.

This cannot stand. We in Congress must act, enforce the law, and uphold the Constitution.

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