Coalition of Tax Experts and Taxpayer Advocates, Small Businesses, and Unions Amends Filing in Case Seeking to Stop DOGE From Unprecedented Unlawful Access to Sensitive Data of Millions
Washington, D.C. – A new legal filing is exposing the startling depths of dangerous access by Elon Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) to sensitive taxpayer and business data at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In an amended complaint filed today by a coalition of tax experts and taxpayer advocates, small businesses, and unions, new details have emerged about Elon Musk’s sweeping campaign to allow his affiliates access to highly sensitive information systems at the IRS.
The coalition first filed its lawsuit on February 17, asking the court to halt DOGE’s unfettered and lawless access to personal data at levels that far exceed those experienced since Watergate and which endanger the privacy of hundreds of millions of Americans. Today’s filing updates the record in the case to include additional details on developments since the original filing. The organizations working to defend the privacy of Americans in this case include the Center for Taxpayer Rights, Main Street Alliance, Communications Workers of America and the National Federation of Federal Employees, and the coalition is represented by Democracy Forward in the matter.
“For decades, the IRS has assured Americans that their tax information is kept safe and confidential. Recent changes to IRS data practices – at the behest of DOGE – throw into question those assurances and the confidentiality of data held by the government collected from hundreds of millions of Americans,” said Democracy Forward Senior Counsel Daniel McGrath. “The results are already catastrophic and will only get worse if the court does not act.”
Since President Trump’s inauguration, DOGE has sought to access critical data from across the government, including data that contains information regarding Americans. This sweeping campaign to access highly sensitive data reached the IRS, which houses some of the nation’s most sensitive information systems and where special protections govern access to this information.
As the complaint argues: “While the DOGE playbook at the IRS appears to mirror every other agency it has entered, the systems at issue, and the laws that govern access to them, are not… since the original Complaint in this action was filed, DOGE has effected a dramatic shift in IRS policy towards consolidation and inter-agency sharing of taxpayer data, upending long-standing policies and practices intended to both ensure compliance with the law and protect the integrity and security of this highly sensitive data. DOGE claims power and authority that Congress has never granted it, and that it may not legally exercise.”
Unfettered access and sharing across the federal government, without regard to statutory privacy protections, allows DOGE staff to inspect confidential business information, IRS investigations, social security numbers, individuals’ financial well-being, bank account information, and more.
The misuse of the data is not hypothetical – on February 17, Mr. Musk tweeted a screenshot that suggested that the reason DOGE is “trying to snoop” around IRS records is to investigate the returns of Senators, including Senator Adam Schiff.
“The dangers posed by DOGE access to IRS data are real, imminent threats to core rights Congress has acted to protect,” added McGrath. “Democracy Forward is honored to work with these brave plaintiffs to hold this administration accountable and protect the privacy of people who could become victims if the court does not act.”
The legal team at Democracy Forward on this case includes Daniel A. McGrath, Madeline H. Gitomer, Robin F. Thurston, and Skye L. Perryman.
Please find the amended complaint here.
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Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.