Fed's Powell says central bank still has access to data it needs

Refiles to add Elon Musk's first name in 4th paragraph

By Michael S. Derby

NEW YORK, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday the central bank has not been cut off from any data it needs to do its work.

Speaking before a House panel as the Trump administration has been stripping government websites from various data sets, Powell he wasn't aware of losing anything the Fed needs, while saying he'd speak up if issues emerged.

Powell was also asked about outside access to critical systems the Fed and the Treasury Department use to process government payments and Powell noted access to these tools is done "very carefully."

Many observers have grown concerned about access by Elon Musk's associates, as part of the Department of Government Efficiency, to government payment systems that are critically important and historically are operated far from any political considerations.