Elon Musk Is Trying to Get Control of Key Payment System—at Any Cost
newrepublic.com
A top Treasury official plans to resign after a fight with Elon Musk’s allies over access to a sensitive payment system.

Summary

David Lebryk, the longest-serving career official at the U.S. Treasury, is resigning after a conflict with Elon Musk’s allies over access to a key government payment system.

Musk’s team has sought control of the system, which distributes $6 trillion annually in Social Security, Medicare, federal salaries, and other payments.

Traditionally, only career officials handle it.

Lebryk’s departure raises concerns, as he served under multiple administrations, including Trump’s, and was widely respected for his nonpartisan leadership.

His exit signals growing instability in financial governance.

  • Snot Flickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    0·
    13 days ago

    “But but their lives and their families! What about the threats they’ll deal with! They could end up killed like in Russia!”

    And if not a single one of these motherfuckers makes that kind of sacrifice it will be just like Russia here in the US.

    It’s not nice to have to make that kind of sacrifice, but we the people are not in positions to do so. These people took these positions and an OATH OF OFFICE to protect the United States Consitution.

    This is an outright abdication of that responsibility because it might be hard for them and their families.

    I’m sure all the people who get lined up to be executed against the wall will really understand that they just needed to protect themselves and their families, right? Like you guys totally don’t deserve that, only us in positions of power do.

    Further, if they think rolling over is going to stop the harassment and abuse, they’re fucking fools.

    I’m sick of the defenses everyone gives each one of these chuckefucks that just rolls over.

    Why the fuck did you want a Federal job if you didn’t give a damn about the future of the country enough to stand for it you worthless fucks?

    I have fucking cancer, god damn it I wish I was in a position where such a sacrifice wouldn’t be in fucking vain.

    (To any idiots out there, yes, Luigi’s actions were in fucking vain assholes so don’t say it)

    • Hawke@lemmy.world
      1·
      13 days ago

      To any idiots out there, yes, Luigi’s actions were in fucking vain assholes so don’t say it

      Well I’ll be the idiot.

      I think it’s hard to say that it was in vain. I feel like it demonstrated some important points clearly:

      • people are very upset with insurance companies and by extension the healthcare system. (Note the lack of negative reaction from the public even as the media tried hard to demonize Luigi)
      • megacorps arent invulnerable against those with nothing to lose. (I think it’s easy to draw the line between Luigi and companies backing off from a few over the top policies)
      • how much the media are in bed with and/or controlled by those same megacorps. (Again, the blatant attempt to demonize Luigi followed by dropping coverage as the public didn’t react the way they wanted)

      If it was going to have true impact it needed to be followed up by more incidents and copycats. Without that it’s only a nudge, and maybe not a wake-up call, let alone the full-on revolution that may be needed to force change. (Not speaking of political overthrow of the government, that’s a whole other topic)

      Luigi may not have been the pebble that launched an avalanche but neither was he nothing.