The ‘DOGE dilemma’ puts US banks’ reputations on the line

The news: Last week, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was granted access to the US Treasury payments system, which handles $5 trillion in annual transactions, per PYMNTS.

Why it matters: Banks process Treasury payments. DOGE’s access to US consumers’ financial data is legally unclear—and was just temporarily limited by the US Department of Justice, per The Hill. But the ambiguity of DOGE’s actions is raising red flags for the banking industry.

• If the government delays payments or prioritizes certain transactions for political reasons, banks could face challenges in fulfilling their obligations while ensuring compliance with financial regulations.