Democrats are convinced they have identified a compelling political narrative: Elon Musk is reportedly accessing federal data pertaining to American taxpayers without authorization.
Rising Concerns Among Democrats
This week, during outdoor rallies and press conferences on Capitol Hill, congressional Democrats have raised alarms about Musk and his DOGE team allegedly accessing sensitive payment systems within the Treasury Department. These systems are known to contain critical personal information of millions of Americans. Additionally, officials from DOGE have recently engaged with technology at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as part of Musk’s broader initiative to combat fraud and waste in government.
Questions Regarding Data Access
“Why does Elon Musk and his team need access to sensitive information such as names, Social Security numbers, addresses, birth dates, and bank account details of so many Americans?” inquired House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., at a recent press conference. “What is their purpose? Why aren’t House Republicans intervening?”
Legal and Privacy Implications
Meanwhile, Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., voiced serious concerns at the same press conference, stating, “The actions taken by Musk and his IT staff are clearly illegal and have already jeopardized the privacy and data security of millions of Americans. If we don’t act now, we may never know the extent of the damage.”
Proposed Legislative Action
Casten, along with Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., who served as a Treasury official during the Obama administration, expressed their intention to introduce the Taxpayer Data Protection Act. This legislation aims to impose strict limitations on who can access the Treasury Department’s payment systems to better safeguard Americans’ sensitive information.
Wider Impact on Health Records
In a separate news conference, Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee further highlighted the troubling access DOGE has to Social Security and health records. Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the leading Democrat on the committee, remarked, “What could be more critical than health records? When someone visits a pharmacy, their prescription information is closely guarded. We currently have no clarity on the fate of this data.”
Musk’s Social Media Statements
Amidst these controversies, Musk took to Twitter to share a video from last fall discussing his plans to address government waste, fraud, and abuse. “We’re going to make spending lower… Otherwise, we risk bankrupting the country,” he stated in the October video. “We must take significant action.”
Recent Developments in Access Restrictions
In the wake of growing concerns, the Trump administration has agreed to limit DOGE’s access to the Treasury payment system as a lawsuit involving federal employee unions is in progress. The approved arrangement will restrict access to just two DOGE officials, who will only be allowed “read-only” access to the data held by Treasury.
Fear of Data Misuse
Casten expressed skepticism about the potential misuse of Americans’ data by Musk and DOGE, fearing they might retaliate against Trump’s opponents. “I worry they will exploit this data unlawfully, acting with intimidation. What does that mean for face of my home state of Illinois, where our Governor [JB] Pritzker has been openly critical of him? Could DOGE withhold Medicaid reimbursements from Illinois?” he raised with reporters. “We must consider the implications for individuals on fixed incomes who dare to voice their opinions.”
