Democratic congressional leaders Thursday unveiled a invoice aimed toward pushing again in opposition to what they referred to as improper snooping by aides to billionaire Elon Musk, who’s been enlisted by President Trump to slash the federal funds.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries stated the brand new Taxpayer Knowledge Safety Act would bar Musk’s workforce on the Division of Authorities Effectivity from having access to Individuals’ delicate private info held by the Treasury Division and different federal authorities businesses.
Calling Musk’s strikes a “power grab,” Jeffries stated Democrats are shifting to rein within the man he referred to as Trump’s “unelected, unaccountable, out-of-control billionaire puppet master.”
“Why do Elon Musk and his minions need access to the names, Social Security numbers, addresses, birthdates and bank account information of millions of Americans?” the Brooklyn Democrat added.
New York Legal professional Basic Letitia James issued an announcement denouncing Musk’s strikes that was backed by a coalition of 12 Democratic attorneys basic.
“This level of access for unauthorized individuals is unlawful, unprecedented, and unacceptable,” James stated. “DOGE has no authority to access this information, which they explicitly sought in order to block critical payments that millions of Americans rely on.”
Musk has shaken up Washington by sending DOGE investigators to comb by means of Treasury Division information and fee methods in what he frames as a fearless effort to root out fraud and wasteful spending.
Democrats name it a partisan fishing expedition that would expose extraordinary folks’s delicate info together with authorities funds.
The opposition occasion and privateness activists are pushing again on a number of fronts.
A choose issued an order quickly blocking Treasury officers from opening some information to DOGE, which isn’t an official authorities company.
Democrats are additionally urgent for hearings and investigations into how DOGE investigators, a few of whom would not have safety clearances, are being allowed such broad entry into usually personal information.
Bessent shrugged off the issues as partisan whining from Democrats hoping to keep away from deep cuts in authorities applications.
“When you hear this squawking, then some status quo interest is not happy,” Bessent stated.
The Knowledge Safety Act would mandate that solely folks with acceptable safety clearances and coaching can entry the Treasury Division’s fee and receipt system. They need to signal a dedication to uphold ethics issues and haven’t any conflicts of curiosity.
It will additionally require Treasury officers to inform Congress and the general public be notified of unauthorized entry, together with doable nationwide safety dangers or interference with Social Safety and different funds to on a regular basis Individuals.
The invoice is an extended shot provided that Republicans management the Home, albeit by solely a slim three-vote margin.
However Rep. Sean Casten (D-In poor health.) stated he hopes to get a handful of GOP lawmakers to interrupt ranks and ship a powerful message to Musk, who polls say is unpopular.
”I do know they’re on the market, I do know they’ve bought the patriotism,” he stated. “They’ve simply bought to point out the braveness.“
Initially Revealed: February 6, 2025 at 4:31 PM EST
