U.S. Rep. Terri A. Sewell, AL-07, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee, led a letter from every Ways and Means Democrat to IRS Acting Commissioner Douglas O’Donnell demanding information regarding Elon Musk’s “illegal access to Americans’ sensitive data including private tax and Social Security information,” the release stated.
“An unelected billionaire has absolutely no business handling the personal information of American taxpayers,” said Ranking Member Sewell. “For Donald Trump to hand Elon Musk full access to Americans’ sensitive tax and Social Security data is not only an egregious violation of privacy, but it is illegal under Section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code. As members of the Ways and Means Committee, we will do everything in our power to hold this Administration accountable for its reckless abuse of power.”
The Members wrote in part, “It is both unclear and unsettling why DOGE would be privy to this sensitive payment system and confidential taxpayer information. It is alarming that DOGE will decide whether and when hard-working American families will receive their tax refunds and may even pick and choose among them.”
“No one, including DOGE, should be rummaging around in the confidential tax information of private citizens or deciding whether and when American families receive their tax refunds,” the Members continued. “DOGE also should not weaponize the Federal payment systems to strike fear in American citizens.”
The letter requests a prompt response to the following questions:
- What confidential taxpayer information protected under Section 6103 has DOGE requested from the IRS and when was it first requested?
- How many times has DOGE requested confidential taxpayer information of specific individuals by name or Social Security Number?
- How many times has DOGE requested IRS officials or employees to audit or investigate any individuals or businesses?
- How many times did DOGE request confidential taxpayer information protected under Section 6103 or request access to systems that contain information provided by the IRS?
- How many times has DOGE received confidential taxpayer information protected under Section 6103 or access (including continuous) to systems that contain such information?
- How many taxpayers (individuals and businesses) have had their confidential taxpayer information received or accessed by DOGE?
The full letter is available here.
