Nixon Administration abuses led to the passage of strict tax privacy laws. That’s one reason moves by DOGE to access sensitive data are so controversial.

A DOGE software engineer is reportedly close to gaining access to sensitive taxpayer data, which is raising alarms. Reports that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is seeking access to a guarded Internal Revenue Service (IRS) system has raised alarm bells in Washington and across the nation.

The unusual request could put sensitive data about millions of American taxpayers in the hands of Trump political appointees.