A massive gap in financial oversight has been exposed after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) identified $4.7 trillion in federal spending that lacked necessary tracking information. A key financial code meant to link payments to specific budget lines was reportedly missing from these transactions, leaving billions of taxpayer dollars unaccounted for.
DOGE, created by President Donald Trump to target wasteful spending, found that the Treasury Account Symbol (TAS) field had been optional for years, allowing payments to be processed without clear documentation. As of this week, the agency has implemented a new rule requiring all federal payments to include a TAS code to improve financial accountability.
The Treasury Access Symbol (TAS) is an identification code linking a Treasury payment to a budget line item (standard financial process).
In the Federal Government, the TAS field was optional for ~$4.7 Trillion in payments and was often left blank, making traceability almost…
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) February 17, 2025
Elon Musk, who has been instrumental in DOGE’s operations, highlighted the issue on X, calling it a major flaw in federal spending practices. His team has also uncovered additional concerns, including outdated Social Security records listing millions of Americans as eligible for benefits well past the normal life expectancy. Some records suggest individuals over 360 years old remain in the system.
$4.7 TRILLION in untraceable payments!!!!!
That’s 4.7 trillion reasons that make it hard to believe this was a mistake or incompetence even. https://t.co/IvJDETdAzZ
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) February 18, 2025
At the same time, DOGE has proposed eliminating paper check payments from federal agencies, estimating the move could save $750 million per year. The Treasury Department processed 116 million paper checks in 2024, with costs adding to the financial burden of maintaining the system.
Joe Scarborough wrongly says that when it comes to the $36 trillion national debt, “85% of that does not come from anything that DOGE is touching.”
DOGE just found the Treasury Department made $4.7 trillion payments that are UNTRACEABLE because they were missing a critical code. pic.twitter.com/KEbN1B0X0s
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) February 18, 2025
DOGE’s efforts to increase transparency have not been without controversy. The agency’s request to access the IRS’s Integrated Data Retrieval System, which holds taxpayer financial data, has raised concerns among privacy advocates. IRS officials have expressed hesitation, warning that granting access to such a sensitive database could lead to misuse.
DOGE has found $4.7 trillion in virtually untraceable treasury payments. Most people can't fathom a billion; 4.7 trillion is absurd. pic.twitter.com/WP57Lt7QcR
— Papa Hemingway (@PopHemingway) February 19, 2025
Despite ongoing pushback, DOGE reports that its initiatives have already resulted in an estimated $55 billion in taxpayer savings. The agency continues to push for greater oversight in federal spending and reductions in unnecessary expenditures.
DOGE finds the treasury released $4.7 trillion in untraceable payments, coinciding exactly with Biden's proposed 2024 tax increase amount.
Not implying a connection, just noting an interesting alignment. pic.twitter.com/YmMjDBLb1W
— Stella (@clairdestella) February 18, 2025
$2.7 TRILLION in Medicare $ went overseas?
$4.7 TRILLION untraceable from the US Treasury?
$20 BILLION in gold bars was hidden by the Biden administration?
When are the criminal traitors responsible going to prison?
Asking for 335 million friends.
— American Warrior for Christ (@johnrackham82) February 19, 2025
$4.7 trillion untraceable—yet they want to audit every $600 transaction we make. The real criminals are the ones running the system. pic.twitter.com/CosMyqLxPI
— cf (@cf__200) February 18, 2025
