DOGE accesses IRS in search for gov’t waste, Democrats fear data at risk

• DOGE has gained temporary access to IRS databases as part of its mission to uncover government waste and fraud. The engineer involved must follow strict confidentiality protocols.

• The move has sparked political controversy, with supporters praising DOGE’s government transparency efforts while critics raise privacy concerns.

• Fourteen states are suing DOGE, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump, arguing that the access is unconstitutional, while DOGE continues to publicize its discoveries of misplaced government funds.

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The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) currently has a team member sifting through IRS files, searching for government waste and fraud. According to a memorandum first obtained by The Washington Post, the DOGE team member will work at the IRS for at least 120 days.

Memorandum requires confidentiality

The individual is expected to gain access to the Integrated Data Retrieval System, or IDRS, which contains taxpayers’ personal information, including bank account details and Social Security numbers.

The Post identified the DOGE team member as software engineer Gavin Kliger, who will have access to IRS buildings and high-level database systems. Kliger arrived at the IRS on Thursday, Feb. 13 to meet with top officials.

The memorandum requires Kliger to maintain the confidentiality of all tax return information and to prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, once his assignment ends, he is prohibited from retaining any sensitive information.

Political reactions: Public transparency or data threat?

DOGE’s involvement in IRS operations has sparked political debate. On the right, DOGE is seen as a tool for exposing and reducing government waste. However, many on the left view DOGE as a potential threat to Americans’ privacy, raising concerns about the level of access granted to government systems.

“Waste, fraud and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long,” the White House said in a statement regarding DOGE’s access to IRS files. “It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it. DOGE will continue to shine a light on the fraud they uncover as the American people deserve to know what their government has been spending their hard-earned tax dollars on.”

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., voiced concerns about the situation.

“My office is hearing that DOGE is now at the IRS,” Wyden wrote in a post on X. “That means Musk’s henchmen are in a position to dig through a trove of data about every taxpayer in America. And if your refund is delayed, they could very well be the reason.”

Legal challenges and ongoing investigations

Fourteen states filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, DOGE and President Donald Trump, claiming that DOGE’s access to sensitive government files is unconstitutional. While the lawsuit is ongoing, a judge has placed limitations on DOGE’s access to certain Treasury files and other agency databases. However, DOGE retains some access to Treasury systems.

A White House spokesperson responded, stating that DOGE is acting legally and with the appropriate security clearances.

Despite the legal challenges, DOGE remains committed to its mission. One of its most recent findings, shared on X, revealed, “$1.9 billion of HUD money was just recovered after being misplaced during the Biden administration due to a broken process. These funds were earmarked for the administration of financial services, but were no longer needed. @SecretaryTurner and @DOGE worked together to fix the issue and de-obligated the funds which are now available for other use by the Treasury.”