The request by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to gain access to the Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS), which contains personal tax information on millions of Americans, is deeply troubling. Granting unfettered access to private taxpayer data to an unqualified agency raises significant privacy and security risks. While increasing transparency is a laudable goal, DOGE has not demonstrated the necessary expertise and respect for established protocols to be trusted to handle such sensitive information responsibly. Taxpayers share their financial details with the IRS under the reasonable expectation of confidentiality and protection from misuse or unauthorized disclosure. Allowing DOGE access could jeopardize this trust and open the door to potential abuse or exploitation of personal data. The IRS rulebook explicitly prohibits accessing taxpayer records without a legitimate business need and formal authorization, underscoring the gravity of this matter. DOGE's track record — established in just the first few short weeks of its existence — of overreach and disregard for due process, coupled with its inability to articulate a clear, legal justification for accessing IDRS, should disqualify it from obtaining this level of access. The Trump administration's prioritizing of data acquisition over citizens' privacy rights is unacceptable. I urge you to uphold the IRS’ longstanding safeguards to protect the confidentiality of taxpayer information. The government's duty is to its citizens, not to an unaccountable agency with a proven disregard for proper procedures and individual rights.
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