Former Treasury secretaries warn of threats to democracy

In the United States, five former Treasury secretaries expressed deep concerns regarding the potential impact of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. In their op-ed, they cautioned that the unprecedented political control exerted by this department over federal financial systems could undermine the nation's democratic foundations. They highlighted the risks posed by the nonpartisan nature of the payment systems, crucial for distributing tax returns and social security benefits, being compromised by political actors. Their commentary followed a federal court's decision to restrict access to these critical Treasury records amidst fears of 'irreparable harm'. The former secretaries—Robert E. Rubin, Lawrence H. Summers, Timothy F. Geithner, Jacob J. Lew, and Janet L. Yellen—wrote that they had taken the unusual step of voicing their concerns through a New York Times op-ed to alert the public to what they viewed as alarming trends in governance and financial management. They indicated that during their tenures, there were no concerted efforts to undermine financial commitments made by Congress, a stark contrast to the current situation where such undermining appears to be happening. The legal backdrop of their commentary involved ongoing litigation where a federal judge barred Musk's team from accessing sensitive Treasury records. This decision stemmed from a lawsuit brought by 19 Democratic attorneys general who argued that political appointees lacked the necessary training to handle sensitive data such as personal Social Security numbers. The judge's ruling indicated significant concerns about the risks of exposing this critical information, compounded by the possibility of increased vulnerability to hacking due to the political nature of the Department of Government Efficiency. In their op-ed, the former secretaries pointed out that the Treasury Department’s primary role should be to uphold the nation’s financial commitments without political interference. They emphasized the potential consequences of DOGE officials gaining unfettered access to federal funds, which could jeopardize essential payments to veterans, federal employees, and Medicare providers. The implications of disrupting these financial commitments could be dire, as many Americans depend on these funds for their livelihood. The position asserted by the secretaries is not only a protective measure for financial systems but also a plea to preserve democratic principles and the integrity of governmental functions that militate against arbitrary control.