WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team member assigned to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will not be granted access to sensitive taxpayer information, according to a newly obtained agreement.
This decision comes after growing concerns that DOGE, under the leadership of Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, could gain unprecedented access to millions of Americans’ personal tax records.
Why the Concern?
Earlier reports revealed that DOGE had sought broad access to an IRS system containing highly sensitive taxpayer information, including:
- Names and addresses
- Social Security numbers
- Income and owed taxes
- Property information
- Child custody details
The potential access request sparked alarm among privacy advocates and IRS officials, who feared it could lead to misuse of personal financial data.
The Agreement: Limited Access and Anonymity
A five-page memorandum of agreement (MOA), obtained by ABC News and first reported by The New York Times, clarified the boundaries of DOGE’s involvement at the IRS. According to the agreement:
- Gavin Kliger, the DOGE member assigned to the IRS, will serve a 120-day term with the potential for a 120-day extension.
- Kliger will not have access to personally identifiable information or sensitive tax return details.
- Any information accessed will be anonymized to ensure that no data can be linked directly or indirectly to individual taxpayers.
“It is not the intention of this assignment for the Detailee to be provided or gain access to returns or return information … including any personally identifiable information associated with such taxpayer records,” the agreement clearly states.
Should access to IRS systems become necessary for his duties, any data shared with Kliger will be anonymized in compliance with federal privacy protections.
What Will the DOGE Member Actually Do at the IRS?
Kliger’s assignment focuses on improving efficiency and modernizing IRS operations rather than handling sensitive taxpayer data directly. According to the memorandum, his responsibilities include:
- Surveying IRS software systems for inefficiencies
- Identifying modernization opportunities for outdated technology
- Implementing fraud prevention safeguards
- Recommending policies to streamline IRS operations
Sources also revealed that Kliger, technically an employee of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), is working across multiple agencies, including:
- USAID (United States Agency for International Development)
- The State Department
- OPM itself
Privacy Concerns and Political Backlash
The initial request for broad access to tax records by DOGE raised alarms among privacy advocates and lawmakers. Critics feared that granting such access could:
- Set a dangerous precedent for data privacy violations
- Lead to potential political misuse of personal tax information
- Erode public trust in the IRS and other government institutions
While the current agreement prevents DOGE’s direct access to sensitive data, concerns remain over how far-reaching DOGE’s influence could become in the future.
No Comment from IRS and OPM
Both the IRS and Office of Personnel Management declined to comment on Kliger’s assignment or the terms of the agreement, leaving questions unanswered about the broader scope of DOGE’s activities within the IRS and other agencies.
