Elon Musk’s Dogecoin (DOGE) accessed a major federal payroll system over the weekend, granting it unprecedented access to personal and financial information of approximately 276,000 government workers. The anonymous sources revealed that DOGE team obtained administrative access to the Federal Personnel and Payroll System (FPPS), housed within the Interior Department, on Saturday. The system processes salaries for employees from various agencies including the Justice, Treasury, and Homeland Security departments, as well as the Air Force, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and US Customs and Border Protection. While officials at the Interior Department initially objected to DOGE’s request due to concerns about data security and potential misuse of sensitive information, their objections were overridden. As a result, two IT officials who resisted the request have been placed on administrative leave and are currently under investigation. This development comes after weeks of DOGE pushing for access to government databases, with some attempts facing legal challenges. The Interior Department issued a statement on Sunday acknowledging the move and emphasizing its commitment to cost-cutting and efficiency. In response, Elon Musk defended his team’s actions, stating that DOGE’s goal was to reconcile separate government databases in an effort to combat fraud and improve government efficiency. However, the decision has sparked anxiety among federal employees about data privacy and potential political influence on hiring and firing decisions due to the extensive access granted by DOGE.