Musk-led DOGE might get access to taxpayer data in US
What's the story
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is mulling a request to give Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to sensitive taxpayer data, The New York Times has reported.
This is part of the Donald Trump administration's plan to fight waste, fraud, and abuse in federal agencies.
If approved, DOGE officials would get wide access to IRS systems, including the Integrated Data Retrieval System housing taxpayer accounts and financial records.
Access details
DOGE team member identified for IRS system access
Gavin Kliger, a software engineer and member of the DOGE team, has been identified as the person who would be gaining access to these IRS systems.
Kliger is currently stationed at IRS headquarters and is expected to serve as a senior adviser to acting IRS Commissioner Doug O'Donnell.
His primary role at the IRS would be providing engineering assistance and IT modernization consulting.
Privacy concerns
Legal and privacy concerns
The possibility of DOGE getting access to sensitive taxpayer data has sparked legal and privacy concerns.
Nineteen state attorneys general have already sued to block similar access to Treasury Department data by political appointees.
Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren, have also spoken against it. They warned that meddling with IRS systems during tax season could potentially delay refunds.
Restructuring plans
IRS restructuring and modernization efforts under scrutiny
The IRS's consideration of this request comes amid wider restructuring efforts under the Trump administration, including plans to lay off thousands of IRS employees hired during the Joe Biden administration.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also expressed an intention to upgrade IRS technology to enhance collections and customer service.
However, critics argue that granting DOGE such access could pose significant risks to taxpayer privacy and data protection laws.
Legal battles
DOGE's access to taxpayer data faces legal challenges
The fate of DOGE's request for taxpayer data access remains unclear amid ongoing legal challenges.
This follows 19 state attorneys general suing to block similar access by political appointees and "special government employees" to the Treasury Department's payment systems.
Despite the challenges, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said that "waste, fraud and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long," highlighting the need for direct system access.