Musk Slams U.S. Bureaucracy After Treasury Access Blocked

Elon Musk criticised the U.S. bureaucracy on Tuesday, arguing that unelected officials hold too much power. Speaking alongside President Donald Trump, he defended his push for government oversight after a judge blocked his department from accessing Treasury payment systems.

At a White House press conference, Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency, claimed that bureaucrats exert excessive control over government operations. He argued that elected representatives—not officials—should determine spending decisions.

The comments came after a U.S. district judge ruled on Saturday to prevent Musk’s department from intervening in Treasury payments. The judge later clarified that the order does not apply to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who retains control over financial operations.

Musk defended his stance, questioning how government officials amass wealth in public service.

"If there's not a good feedback loop from the people to the government... we don’t live in a democracy, we live in a bureaucracy," he said.

Donald Trump echoed Musk’s concerns, vowing to push for tighter controls over government spending.

Copied