Elon Musk’s DOGE Sparks Controversy Over IRS Data Access Amid Tax Season
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is attempting to gain access to vast amounts of sensitive taxpayer data, raising alarms among lawmakers and privacy advocates.
According to unidentified sources familiar with the plan who spoke to the Associated Press, DOGE is specifically seeking entry into the IRS’ Integrated Data Retrieval System, which contains private taxpayer information, bank records, and other financial data.
If granted access, DOGE would have “instantaneous visual access to certain taxpayer accounts,” per the IRS website. Advocates warn that this level of exposure could lead to privacy violations, targeted investigations, and unforeseen consequences for Americans.
The White House, however, defended the initiative. In an emailed statement, spokesman Harrison Fields said, “Waste, fraud, and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long. It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it.”
He added that DOGE intends to “shine a light on the fraud they uncover” so taxpayers know how their money is being spent.
Still, not everyone is convinced. Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren are pushing back, demanding transparency from the IRS about any permissions granted to DOGE. In a letter to acting IRS Commissioner Douglas O’Donnell, they requested copies of any memos related to the matter, as well as explanations for why DOGE would need access to tax returns and bank records.
Beyond concerns over legality, Wyden and Warren warned that DOGE’s involvement could wreak havoc on the 2025 tax season. “We are also extremely concerned that DOGE personnel meddling with IRS systems in the middle of tax filing season could, inadvertently or otherwise, cause breakdowns that may delay the issuance of tax refunds indefinitely,” their letter stated.
The IRS, which began accepting 2025 tax returns on Jan. 27, expects more than 140 million filings by the April 15 deadline. Meanwhile, the agency is reportedly planning to lay off thousands of workers, raising further concerns about operational stability.
Adding to the controversy, 14 state attorneys general have filed a lawsuit challenging DOGE’s authority, arguing that Musk’s oversight of government data is unconstitutional. The lawsuit contends that only a Senate-confirmed official has the authority to take such actions.
Meanwhile, a newly created account on Musk’s social media platform X, called DOGE IRS, is calling on the public to report government “waste, fraud, and abuse” within the IRS.
