EXCERPT:
WATERS: “Do you know the level, type, or nature of the clearances and security training required for individuals to access the information held in the computers of Treasury, IRS, or CFPB?”
BESSENT: “Yes, I do, and I think we would have a disagreement over the definition of the word unfettered.”
WATERS: “Mr. Secretary, did all the individuals working with DOGE who were given access to Treasury and CFPB’s computer databases receive all of the required clearances and security training before they were granted access?”
BESSENT: “Again, they were granted read-only access at Treasury. There were two —”
WATERS: “So, let me just say —”
BESSENT: “— two — two DOGE employees —”
WATERS: “— please, you can’t filibuster here. This is not the filibuster playground. And so, what you did was you let these strangers into our Treasury with access to all of the data, all of the personnel information, and you just opened the door. Why did you do that?”
BESSENT: “No, ma’am, they — they were Treasury employees.”