Elon Musk’s DOGE seeks access to personal taxpayer data, raising alarm at IRS

Musk-led department seeks unprecedented IRS access

Elon Musk‘s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has triggered concerns by requesting access to a highly sensitive system within the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which contains detailed financial data on millions of American taxpayers, according to US media reports.

DOGE, spearheaded by Musk and established under President Donald Trump’s administration, aims to eliminate wasteful government spending. As part of its efforts, DOGE has sought broad access to IRS systems, property, and datasets, including the Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS)—a database that allows instantaneous visual access to taxpayer accounts.

Privacy concerns and government scrutiny

The request, which as of Sunday evening had not yet been granted, has raised alarms within the government and among privacy advocates, according to a report. Experts warn that granting DOGE officials access to such private financial data could pose serious risks, including identity theft and privacy violations.

“People who share their most sensitive information with the federal government do so under the understanding that it will be used legally and securely,” said Elizabeth Laird, a former state privacy officer now with the Center for Democracy and Technology. “This request raises serious concerns about potential misuse of taxpayer data.”

Meanwhile, the White House defended DOGE’s efforts, stating that the agency’s mission is to identify and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending.

“Waste, fraud, and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long,” White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said. “It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it. DOGE will continue to shine a light on fraud as the American people deserve to know what their government has been spending their hard-earned tax dollars on.”

IRS officials weighing memorandum for access

The IRS is reportedly considering a memorandum of understanding to grant DOGE personnel limited access to tax-agency systems, including the IDRS, according to a report.

Access to the IDRS is extremely restricted, as any individual with access could alter transaction data, and generate tax notices, collection documents, and other financial records. Under federal law, taxpayers are entitled to seek monetary damages if their information is improperly disclosed or even accessed without authorization.

IRS officials, including acting commissioner Doug O’Donnell, have not publicly confirmed whether DOGE has been or will be granted access to these sensitive databases. The debate over the request comes as nearly 150 million Americans prepare to file their tax returns ahead of the April 15 deadline.

DOGE’s previous attempt to access the Treasury Payment System

This is not the first time Elon Musk’s DOGE has sought access to critical US financial systems. Previously, the agency attempted to gain access to the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Fiscal Services, which manages the country’s payment system and disburses trillions of dollars in federal funds. However, courts denied DOGE access to the system following legal challenges.

DOGE, which has already targeted agencies like the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Education, has faced pushback from multiple government entities for its aggressive approach to cutting federal spending and eliminating inefficiencies.

Future implications

As scrutiny over DOGE’s latest IRS request grows, lawmakers and privacy experts are raising concerns over potential overreach and the risks of politically motivated financial investigations. The final decision on IRS access will likely set a precedent for how much power DOGE can wield in its campaign to reshape federal spending and bureaucracy.

With the April 15 tax deadline approaching, the controversy is expected to escalate, making it a major issue for both government transparency advocates and privacy defenders in Washington.

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