Reports indicate Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is seeking access to sensitive Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data, potentially exposing the personal financial information of millions of Americans.
Media outlets report that Elon Musk’s DOGE is attempting to gain access to a secure IRS system containing the private tax records of millions of US citizens. This action, initially reported by the Washington Post, is the latest in DOGE’s efforts to reform US government agencies and curtail wasteful spending.
The IRS systems in question hold extensive private taxpayer data, including tax returns, Social Security numbers, addresses, banking details, and employment information. The Integrated Data Retrieval System, utilized by IRS employees, allows for tax information review, notice issuance, and record updates.
According to reports, DOGE software engineer Gavin Kliger recently worked at IRS headquarters. He is slated to become a senior advisor to the acting commissioner, although his role is still being finalized. The reports suggest Kliger will have extensive system access; however, as of Sunday, he hadn’t yet accessed sensitive tax data.
“Waste, fraud, and abuse have plagued our system for too long. Direct system access is needed to identify and rectify these issues,” White House spokesperson Harrison Fields stated to The Post. He added that DOGE is dedicated to exposing fraud and ensuring transparency in how taxpayer money is used.
Musk recently accused federal employees of defrauding taxpayers.
“We find it peculiar that numerous bureaucrats with salaries in the hundreds of thousands possess tens of millions of dollars in net worth. We are simply curious about the source of these funds,” Musk commented to reporters during a meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office.
This data access request has raised concerns among government officials and privacy advocates who warn of significant risks associated with granting Musk access to private taxpayer information.
The IRS plans to lay off thousands of probationary employees soon, consistent with the Trump administration’s broader federal spending cuts.
This is part of a series of workforce reductions ordered by President Trump as part of his campaign to streamline government operations. His administration has employed measures such as a hiring freeze, employee buyouts, and mandated collaboration with DOGE to identify and eliminate inefficiencies.