Ranking Member Connolly Demands Investigation Into Flagrant Disregard for Taxpayer Privacy as DOGE Meddles in Critical IRS Systems
Washington, D.C. (May 15, 2025)— Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Acting Inspector General Heather Hill demanding an investigation into DOGE’s invasion of taxpayer privacy rights in IRS systems following concerning reporting that DOGE planned to partner with Palantir, a software company cofounded by Trump-connected Republican megadonor Peter Thiel, to run a 30 day “hackathon.” Under the guise of “modernizing” IRS systems, DOGE is attempting to create a centralized master database of taxpayer information accessible by unknown external sources, like Palantir, posing a clear threat to the privacy and safety of Americans.
“I write with deep concern regarding reports of recent irresponsible information technology (IT) policies and the abuse of Americans’ tax data at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Reporting in the New York Times and Wired indicates that the Trump-Musk Administration is not only in the process of replacing core systems at IRS using a hackathon, but has also forced the IRS to disclose Americans’ private information for law enforcement purposes. I request that you investigate security, operational controls, and data privacy concerns associated with this new IT system at the IRS as well as the unprecedented law enforcement agreement to exploit Americans’ personal information from the IRS,” wrote Ranking Member Connolly.
In addition to reports showing DOGE’s endangerment of taxpayer information, on April 8, 2025, CNN reported that IRS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reached an agreement to provide sensitive taxpayer data to federal immigration authorities. Reporting from Wired found that this information would go into forming Musk’s master database and could be used to aid the Trump Administration in its illegal tracking and surveilling of taxpayers suspected of being undocumented. This gross disclosure reverses years of promises by the IRS to maintain the confidentiality of taxpayer information.
In his letter, Ranking Member Connolly also highlights Democratic efforts to modernize government IT while safeguarding Americans’ most sensitive information, demonstrating the difference between responsible oversight of IT modernization and DOGE’s reckless approach that endangers Americans’ privacy for the gain of President Trump’s billionaire tech buddies:
“Since coming to Congress, I have prioritized IT modernization throughout the federal government. Antiquated IT systems sap government efficiency, waste taxpayer dollars, and degrade customer service for taxpayers. Congress has worked together on bipartisan modernization efforts for years including the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF), the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA), and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence technology. More than just funding and directing modernization, Congress has played a critical oversight role in IT acquisition, including through the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) and numerous investigations into delayed or over-budget IT projects,” concluded Ranking Member Connolly.
To inform legislative initiatives related to technology modernization and to protect sensitive taxpayer data, Ranking Member Connolly requested answers to his inquiries and a preliminary briefing to Congress by May 29, 2025.
Click here to read the letter to IRS Acting Inspector General Heather Hill.
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