Aides to top Trump administration officials and members of Congress have been surprised to find themselves with access to a sensitive Treasury Department payment system used to disburse millions of dollars in coronavirus relief, an investigative report revealed.
The access, which was granted through a special program called the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), allows users to perform a variety of functions, including initiating and tracking payments, including those related to the $2.5 trillion coronavirus relief package passed by Congress in March.
The access was granted to officials and their aides, including some with no official connection to the Treasury Department, due to a flawed vetting process, the report said.
The Treasury Department has acknowledged that 27 Trump administration officials and 53 members of Congress, as well as their aides, were granted access to the EFTPS under this program.
The reported lack of oversight has raised concerns about potential abuses of the system, with some lawmakers and watchdog groups calling for increased transparency and tighter controls on the program.
The Treasury Department has said it is reviewing the program and will work to strengthen its security measures to prevent future abuses.