Monterey Times

Rep. Jimmy Panetta, a member of the U.S. Congress representing California’s 19th district since 2017, recently addressed several issues concerning federal payment systems through his social media platform. His comments underscore the importance of secure and reliable federal payment processes.

On February 3, 2025, Rep. Panetta highlighted the critical role of the federal payment system in delivering essential services to citizens, stating that "The integrity of our federal payment system is essential to ensuring Social Security, Medicare, and tax refunds reach those who rely on them."

Later that day, he elaborated on the scale of operations managed by the Treasury Department. He noted that "The Treasury processes 1.5 billion payments annually. To do this, the fed gov retains sensitive info on millions of Americans who receive Social Security checks, tax refunds & more." He emphasized the protection required for such information as Social Security numbers and bank routing details.

In another statement on February 3, 2025, Rep. Panetta expressed concerns over political influences affecting government payment systems. He asserted that "Government payment systems should serve the American people, not be subject to political influence." This led him to mention ongoing congressional actions aimed at ensuring accountability and safeguarding taxpayer data.