February 27,2025

Wyden, Finance Committee Democrats Object to Treasury Nomination Hearing

While Trump Administration Stonewalls Finance Oversight, Committee Republicans Scheduled Hearing for Deputy Treasury Secretary Nominee Without Consent from Democrats

Washington, D.C. – Led by Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee released the following joint statement today after committee Republicans scheduled a hearing on the nomination of Michael Faulkender for deputy Treasury secretary without bipartisan consent: 

“This afternoon, we informed Chairman Crapo and his staff that we object to holding a hearing on the Faulkender nomination as long as the Trump administration continues to stonewall oversight of the lawless intrusion of personnel affiliated with Elon Musk into the Treasury Department and IRS. 

“Musk personnel have infiltrated key systems and databases within Treasury and IRS, forcing out career public servants and putting at risk the most intimate data about nearly every person, business and nonprofit in America. Press reports have also indicated that Musk personnel sought access to Treasury payment systems with the intent to impound funds illegally, heightening our concerns that their access to IRS systems and taxpayer data could lead to abuse, including political targeting. 

“The Administration has misled Ranking Member Wyden in a letter pertaining to the Treasury payment systems, declined to brief the Finance Committee on the Treasury infiltration without citing any valid reason, and refused to answer questions pertaining to the activities of these Musk-affiliated personnel. 

“The Senate’s advice and consent role is a check on the executive branch, and we cannot perform that constitutional duty when the executive branch makes oversight impossible.”

The Senate Finance Committee members joining Ranking Member Wyden on today’s statement were: Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.; Michael Bennet, D-Colo.; Mark Warner, D-Va.; Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.; Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.; Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; Tina Smith, D-Minn.; Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M.; Raphael Warnock D-Ga.; and Peter Welch, D-Vt. 

 

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