Washington, D.C. - Today, Reps. John B. Larson (CT-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Jim Himes (CT-04), and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) joined House Democrats to introduce the Taxpayer Data Protection Act.
“Elon Musk was not elected by anyone, and no one voted to have their privacy exposed,” said Larson. “This breach of taxpayer confidentiality is yet another example of the billionaire class and their cronies trying to dictate how government is run in this Administration. The Taxpayer Data Protection Act will block Mr. Musk and his unelected, unaccountable 'DOGE’ from accessing Americans’ sensitive personal information, something the Treasury Department should have done on their own. Now it is time for our Republican colleagues, who control both chambers of Congress, to join Democrats and act to protect the American people’s financial security from this unprecedented power grab.”
“The Taxpayer Data Protection Act will put serious safeguards around the Treasury Department to ensure taxpayers’ private information is protected from Elon Musk and individuals that have no business accessing your private information,” said Courtney. “It is imperative that Congress, as a separate, co-equal branch of government, do its job and make sure that the privacy rights of every American are protected.”
“Today, I co-sponsored the Taxpayer Data Protection Act to keep your Social Security number, home address, & who knows what else out of unelected billionaire and self-appointed president Elon Musk’s hands,” said DeLauro. “We must hold the Trump Administration accountable and keep Americans’ data safe—not sell it to the highest bidding billionaire.”
“Elon Musk and his interns are treating the private data of Americans with a flippant and reckless disregard,” said Himes. “The Taxpayer Data Protection Act will bring accountability to the Treasury Department and protect taxpayers’ private information from being rifled through by the unqualified and unvetted DOGE cabal.”
“The sensitive personal data of millions of Americans should only be accessed by vetted government officials for legitimate purposes. Elon Musk has no business accessing this vital information," said Congresswoman Hayes. "This legislation will ensure no illegitimate actor can access the private information of taxpayers.”
This legislation will stop people with conflicts of interest or without a security clearance from accessing the U.S. Treasury’s sensitive payment system, which processes trillions of dollars in payments, including Social Security, Medicare, and paychecks for federal workers.
Last week, the highest-ranking career Treasury official was forced to retire after Elon Musk and his unaccountable ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ were granted access to confidential taxpayer data, including names and addresses of Americans.
Yesterday, Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee wrote to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent demanding answers on what information has been accessed by the ‘DOGE’ and who authorized this breach of taxpayer privacy.
The text of the legislation is available HERE.