Letters from an American February 4, 2025
21 snips
Feb 5, 2025 Dive into the unsettling case of Marco Elez, whose access to U.S. Treasury systems raises serious security concerns. Explore the risks AI poses to government stability and how legislators are scrambling to protect citizens' rights. Reflect on the backlash against social programs stemming from historic decisions like Brown v. Board of Education. Examine troubling trends seen as weakening democracy, including corporate influence and reduced public services. Finally, discover how recent political maneuvers and proposals impact both domestic voters and foreign relations.
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Engineer Accesses Treasury Systems
- Marco Elez, an ex-SpaceX and X engineer, reportedly has admin access to Treasury systems.
- This access controls 20% of the US economy, including veterans' and Social Security benefits.
Musk's Plans for Government
- Musk's team plans to cut government workers and use AI for budget cuts and finding waste.
- This raises concerns about potential misuse of power and control over federal funds.
AI and Government Software
- Thomas Shedd, leading the GSA's TTS, discussed using AI for government software.
- This includes changing logins to identify individuals and detect fraud, despite privacy concerns.