Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E) is facing mounting criticism from Democrats and even some Conservatives over its push to gain access to sensitive taxpayer data, including individual records from the IRS Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS), according to an NBC report.
Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks of New York is one of the most vocal critics, calling out the initiative in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He said, “An unelected oligarch with no security clearance should not be accessing Americans’ most confidential information.”
Elon’s team is pushing forward, however, with the goal of cleaning up what they describe as a deeply broken system, according to White House spokesperson Harrison Fields. While some see the push as a much-needed step to combat inefficiency, others fear it opens the door to unnecessary government overreach.
D.O.G.E employee eyes IRS access to sensitive systems
An IRS employee who is affiliated with D.O.G.E is set to seek access to the Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS), which houses sensitive taxpayer information. According to NBC, the D.O.G.E employee is expected to formally request clearance to access the system, though as of now, they have not yet been granted the ability to do so.
The IDRS is a very important system that allows IRS employees to access taxpayer accounts, review account details, request returns, and automatically generate notices, collection documents, and other outputs.
The system contains a vast amount of personal data, including taxpayer identification numbers, details about retirement accounts, pending adoptions, and a whole lot more. Access to this system is highly restricted. According to the IRS website, only authorized employees can access accounts relevant to their official duties. They are strictly forbidden from looking into the accounts of people they know personally or with whom they have any financial interest.
In an official statement, an administration official confirmed that the D.O.G.E employee in question had joined after President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. The official said that the employee was acting legally and possessed the necessary security clearance to carry out their duties. This clarification comes after earlier reports incorrectly said that the employee had already been granted access.
Elon claims fraudulent Social Security payments
In an interview from the Oval Office today, Elon claimed that a preliminary review by D.O.G.E had found suspicious Social Security payments going to beneficiaries who were supposedly 150 to 200 years old.
Elon joked about the anomaly, saying, “There’s crazy things, like, just a cursory examination of Social Security and we’ve got people in there that are about 150 years old. Now, do you know anyone that’s 150? I don’t. They should be in the Guinness Book of World Records, they’re missing out.” He further speculated that the individuals receiving these payments were likely dead or, in his words, “should be very famous.”
In the interview, Elon also said that there were also instances where Social Security payments were being made without any identifying information tied to them. “Obviously, we want to make sure that people who deserve to receive Social Security do receive it, and that they receive it quickly and accurately,” Elon said. Elon went on to explain his broader mission with D.O.G.E, emphasizing that the team’s primary goal is to reduce wasteful federal spending. “If your taxpayer dollars are not spent in a sensible and frugal manner, then that’s not okay,” Elon said.
Elon added that, “It’s not Draconian or radical. I think it’s really just saying let’s look at each of the expenditures and say, is this actually in the best interest of the people? And if it is, it’s approved. If it’s not, we should think about it.”
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