Musk’s DOGE seeks access to personal taxpayer data, raising alarm at IRS The unusual request could put sensitive data about millions of American taxpayers in the hands of Trump political appointees.

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is seeking access to the Internal Revenue Service’s highly sensitive taxpayer data system, a source familiar with the move tells CNN.

If successful, Musk and his group would have access to millions of tightly controlled files that include taxpayer information, bank records and other sensitive records.

NPR's A Martinez talks with Nina Olson, executive director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights, about the risks of granting Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency access to sensitive IRS data.

While DOGE says it needs taxpayer data to search out "waste, fraud, and abuse," such a move puts at risk personal information on more than 150 million tax filers.

The mere fact that DOGE is seeking such quick access has been alarming to many people for a number of reasons — including the potential that DOGE team members may access some types of tax data ...

Among them is the Integrated Data Retrieval System, or IDRS, which enables tax agency employees to access IRS accounts — including personal identification numbers — and bank information.

Allowing the move could give Elon Musk’s team access to the IRS’s Integrated Data Retrieval System, people familiar with the matter said.