Musk’s DOGE team tries to gain access to taxpayer info

WASHINGTON: Elon Musk’s government efficiency team is trying to access a broad range of taxpayer data, including on individuals, reported Bloomberg.

Musk’s team is seeking the data but has not yet accessed it, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing the private matter.

The US has strict laws that prohibit the disclosure of taxpayer data, though there are exceptions for law enforcement.

Judges to consider barring Musk’s DOGE team from govt systems

Democratic lawmakers including Representative Gregory Meeks of New York criticised the move by Musk’s team, called him “an unelected oligarch with no security clearance – who should not be accessing Americans’ most confidential information” in a post on X.

In January, the newly formed DOGE acquired access to the Treasury’s payment system, prompting a senior level civil servant who tried to block the move to abruptly leave. Attorneys general from 19 states and three labour unions also filed lawsuits to prevent DOGE’s access to the sensitive systems.

Last week, three Senate Democrats also criticised Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for what they called a ‘lack of candour’ about what DOGE workers are doing with US payment systems.