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Welcome to logoff. Today, I focus on Doge's attempts to access taxpayer information through the IRS' most sensitive records. This is a push that raises concerns about both privacy and the potential for abuse at the highest level of millions.
What's the latest? The White House is pushing the IRS to allow Elon Musk Department government-efficient access to the system that includes taxpayer records, personal identification numbers and banking information, according to the Washington Post.
A group representing members, taxpayer advocates and small businesses sued Doge on Monday, asking federal judges to block access.
Who is usually able to access this data? In other managers, access to this data is reserved primarily for selection groups of career employees. Political appointees, including IRS commissioners, are not normally permitted to view data.
What does the government say? The White House argues that Doge needs access to IRS data to combat “waste, fraud, abuse” in its tax system. This is to support Trump's goals from a freeze on IRS employment, and experts say it will hinder the agency's ability to detect fraud.
What is the overall picture? The fight over the IRS is one of several high-stakes struggles over access to sensitive government data. Social Security Agency's deputies quit over the weekend after a fight over access to Doge's agency's data, and there's a similar fight over access to the Treasury's payment system.
And so, it's time to log off…
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