Musk's Department of Government Efficiency Faces Backlash Over IRS Data Access Plan
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency seeks access to IRS taxpayer data, raising privacy concerns and prompting legal challenges from lawmakers.
Allowing DOGE team members to view Americans’ tax information would violate federal law and could lead to the information being abused for political reasons, the Senators wrote.
Democratic Senators question IRS about DOGE access to data
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Advocates fear that the potential unlawful release of taxpayer records could be used to maliciously target Americans, violate their privacy and create other ramifications.
Elon Musk’s DOGE seeks access to taxpayer data at IRS: AP sources
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Elon Musk's DOGE seeks access to taxpayer data at IRS: AP sources
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The group's efforts have also sparked several lawsuits, with consumer advocates and Democratic lawmakers raising alarms earlier this month after DOGE gained access to the Treasury Department's payment system, which stores personal data for most Americans.
Elon Musk's DOGE presence at the IRS raises concerns about taxpayer data security, refund delays
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Even though outside contractors are used for technical upgrades or fixes to a system widely recognized as "antiquated," the Post noted that it is "highly unusual" for a political appointee of partisan body like DOGE to obtain access to the IDRS.
Senate Democrats Say DOGE Has 'No Right to Hoover up Taxpayer Data' at IRS
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Some agents are reportedly worried about possible political implications.
'Primary concern': IRS worried Trump and Musk will exploit taxpayer info to 'go after folks'
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Musk is leading DOGE to aggressively slash government waste when it comes to federal spending under President Donald Trump.
DOGE's access to critical IRS system containing taxpayer information is imminent
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The DOGE involvement in the IRS database could be one of its most sensitive operations to date, as any action to toughen enforcement on ordinary taxpayers could spur political backlash.
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Some of DOGE's efforts have raised concerns about data privacy and security.
Elon Musk's DOGE seeks access to sensitive and restricted IRS data
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Doge incursions into the US tax collection agency come as the agency is preparing to lay off thousands of workers hired by the previous Biden administration.
IRS reportedly preparing to give Musk’s Doge agency access to taxpayer data
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DOGE is seeking to significantly reduce the size of the federal workforce and root out what it characterizes as waste, fraud and abuse within the government.
DOGE seeks access to highly sensitive taxpayer data at IRS | Politics
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Democrats used the situation to push strong messaging that an unelected billionaire is looking to access the private information of hardworking people.
DOGE on collision course with IRS
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The move has rattled agency insiders and privacy experts who warn that granting political operatives access to such private information could be extraordinarily dangerous.
Elon Musk's DOGE asks for access to IRS taxpayer data, sources say
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Summary
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is pursuing access to the IRS’s Integrated Data Retrieval System, which contains sensitive taxpayer information. Privacy advocates and lawmakers, including Senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren, express alarm, fearing potential violations of privacy laws and misuse of data. Concerns have escalated regarding disruptions to tax refunds for millions of Americans during the current filing season. The White House defends DOGE’s initiative to identify fraud, but bipartisan pushback intensifies amid a lawsuit challenging the legality of DOGE's data access. The IRS faces staffing cuts as tax season progresses.
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