This morning, workers from US Treasury Treasury Department Bureau (BFS) received an email announcing that Tom Krause, a software manager and Elon Musk Allywas “appointed to exercise the delegated functions of the deputy tax secretary”. This role was previously occupied by David Lebryk, who resigned after refusing To allow access to the efficiency of the Ministry of Government Effectiveness (DOGE) of Musk with sensitive systems within the Treasury Department. Although it was previously reported That Krause, who had been called an employee of the special government, had obtained the former Lebryk post, the email also stipulates that Krause is “currently CEO of Cloud Software Group”.
“Tom brings more than 20 years of experience to the direction, by building and positioning software and technological companies for long-term value and success,” said the email. “Tom is currently the CEO of Cloud Software Group which manages and operates several companies of Critical Mission Critical Enterprise Software.”
In response to Wired questions, a company representative said that “Tom is the CEO of Cloud Software Group” and sent a copy of an email sent to company employees last week in which Krause A Written: “In addition to my duties as CEO of Cloud Software Group, I recommend the US Treasury Department as a” special government employee “. I am honored to serve our country. Critics believe that Krause keeps his work in addition to serving the government could be a huge conflict of interest.
The treasure did not immediately respond to a request for comments. Cloud Software Group did not answer questions about the question of whether Krause would continue to get a salary of the company during his stay with the Treasury.
In an affidavit deposited Thursday in the trial Alliance for Retired Americans c. Department of the TreasuryKrause wrote: “During this role in this role of treasure, I also maintained my job as Director General (CEO) of Cloud Software Group, who, who, who, who, who, who [is] A private company made up of several corporate software companies. This arrangement was approved by the Treasury Ethics Office, which determined, on the basis of my SGE role, that this arrangement was authorized. “In the same affidavit, Krause said:” I have not yet assumed these functions “as a fiscal assistant secretary.
“I cannot think of another example where it happened, but I think that it is part of a broader scheme of the erasure of conflicts of interest within the federal government,” explains Don Moynihan, Professor of public policy at the University of Michigan. “Federal employees cannot take more than one $ 25 gift from someone who could try to influence their actions. On the other hand, their bosses simultaneously direct private companies while managing parties of the government that affect their companies. »»
The treasure in particular, he says, could pose a conflict of interest in the industries because “it affects everything”. And any conflict of alleged interest may not be limited to Krause’s own company. “There is a network of people from Silicon Valley and American companies that are now working together,” said Moynihan. “And so it is not only a question of the conflict of interest which he could have with his business, but the way he is located to help this wider network which now effectively directs the government.”
