Post Reports
DOGE wants access to your tax data. Why?
Feb 18, 2025
Jacob Bogage, an economics correspondent for The Washington Post, joins to delve into a controversial request from DOGE for access to IRS data. They discuss alarming implications for taxpayer privacy and the potential risks of corporate interests infiltrating sensitive financial information. The conversation dives into the vulnerabilities of the IRS as a data target, the fallout from possible IRS layoffs, and the urgent need for safeguards to maintain public trust in the tax system amid increasing political maneuvering.
20:53
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Quick takeaways
- Doge's request for IRS data access raises concerns about taxpayer privacy and the potential misuse of sensitive financial information.
- Despite claims of streamlining processes, Doge's need for access is questioned given the IRS's ongoing modernization efforts and existing inefficiencies.
Deep dives
Doge's Interest in IRS Data
Doge, Elon Musk's service, aims to gain access to the IRS's highly protected data systems, which consist of around 60 databases linked to the Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS). This extensive system holds sensitive financial information for every taxpayer in the U.S., including bank information, tax balances, and personal data. The push for access is led by a young software engineer from Doge, who has been navigating through various government agencies to collect data. This raises significant questions about legal protections and the appropriateness of granting access to such sensitive information, especially since the IRS is under pressure to provide him with extensive access.
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