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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Anna Betts

Musk’s Doge gains access to federal payroll system despite staff warnings

a man stands in front of an American flag backdrop
Elon Musk attends a rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on 30 March 2025. Photograph: Vincent Alban/Reuters

Members of Elon Musk’s so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) reportedly gained access to a payroll system over the weekend that processes salaries for about 276,000 federal employees across various government agencies, despite warnings from senior staff about the potential risks.

According to two people familiar with the situation who spoke with the New York Times, Doge employees had spent about two weeks trying to obtain administrative access to the program, known as the Federal Personnel and Payroll System.

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