Reps. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) unexpectedly entered House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office Wednesday, confronting him over Elon Musk’s team gaining access to a Treasury Department payment system.
Their entry followed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s visit to discuss President Trump’s tax agenda. Moore claimed Bessent was not present when they confronted Johnson, Politico reported.
“Gwen forced her way in, and I followed,” Chu told reporters. “She was already confronting Johnson about Bessent and the theft of Americans’ private tax information for Elon Musk.”
Last weekend, Bessent granted Musk’s team “read-only” access to the system, which handles trillions in tax refunds and Social Security payments. The Treasury Department assured lawmakers this access does not impact payments.
A witness criticized Chu and Moore’s actions, calling them “rude, aggressive, and unhinged,” but noted Johnson still listened to their concerns.
A spokesperson for Rep. Chu disputed that account.
“She never barged or shoved her way into anything,” said Chu’s communications director, Graeme Crews. “She politely joined an ongoing meeting, and the Speaker invited her in for a brief, civil discussion. The Secretary was not present, and she left immediately afterward.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Monday that Elon Musk is a special government employee but was unsure if he had received a security clearance or passed a background check.
CNN reported that Musk’s status means he isn’t a full-time federal employee, and an unnamed source claimed he had been given a top-secret security clearance. Attorney Arthur Aidala argued Musk shouldn’t need a background check, citing his contributions to space exploration.
Meanwhile, Musk pledged to bring home two NASA astronauts stranded in space for nearly eight months, blaming the Biden administration for delays. President Trump personally requested Musk’s help, and SpaceX is set to return the astronauts by early April.
Musk originally co-led the Department of Government Efficiency with Vivek Ramaswamy, who has since stepped down to run for Ohio governor.
