Sources tell WIRED that the ability of DOGE’s Marko Elez to alter code controlling trillions in federal spending was rescinded days after US Treasury and White House officials said it didn’t exist.

This primer explains what the Bureau of the Fiscal Service does, how it has traditionally been managed by career civil servants, and the risks posed by tampering with the system.

The Trump administration is pushing to end a court order that prohibits U.S. DOGE Service from accessing the Treasury Department’s personal and financial data.