Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, has requested access to the IRS Data Retrieval System, fueling privacy concerns. The request is part of a campaign to cut federal spending and expose waste. Officials and experts warn the move could compromise taxpayer data security and risk identity theft.
According to US media, Elon Musk’s DOGE has caused concern by requesting access to a system with the US tax office that has extensive financial data for millions of Americans, The Raw Story shares.
United States President Donald Trump has launched an effort to reduce government expenditure that he views as unnecessary or inconsistent with his ideas, with the support of Musk, the wealthiest man in the world.
Officials from the Department of General Services (DOGE) have reportedly been asked for extensive access to IRS systems, properties, and information, according to the Washington Post and others.
Among these is the IRS-recognized Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS), which provides quick visual access to specific taxpayer accounts but is typically subject to extremely tight access controls.
According to the sources, the request was still not approved as of Sunday evening.
According to ABC News, however, this has caused concern among government officials and privacy experts, who fear that providing Musk with access to sensitive taxpayer data might have extremely negative consequences.
“People who share their most sensitive information with the federal government do so under the understanding that not only will it be used legally, but also handled securely and in ways that minimize risks like identity theft and personal invasion, which this reporting brings into serious question,” Elizabeth Laird, a former state privacy officer now with the Center for Democracy and Technology, told ABC.
In response to NBC News’s question regarding the employee’s possible access to the sensitive system, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields stated, “Waste, fraud, and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long.”
Finding and fixing the problem requires direct access to the system.
The American people have a right to know how their government has been spending their tax money, and DOGE will keep exposing fraud when they find it, according to Fields.
As part of Trump and Musk’s effort to reduce the federal workforce, US media reported on Friday that the IRS is gearing up to lay off thousands of staff as early as this week.
Luis Gochoco is a seasoned managing editor and writer with over a decade of experience covering politics, technology, gaming, and entertainment news. With a keen eye for breaking stories and in-depth analysis, he has established himself as a trusted voice in digital journalism. Luis is one of the key forces behind the success of GameNGuide, contributing to 12 million views through engaging and high-traffic content. He also played a pivotal role in generating 8 million views on International Business Times, shaping the platform’s technology and gaming coverage.
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