In his first week leading the so-called DOGE effort, Elon Musk and his unknown minions gained full access to the federal government’s central payment system with no warning, explanation or notification to millions of Americans about the potential threat to their sensitive data. The scale of the intrusion into our privacy is massive, unprecedented and unconscionable.

House Republicans have let Elon Musk rifle through the highly sensitive records of all Americans—a dangerous invasion of privacy.

House Democrats are fighting back with the Taxpayer Data Protection Act to protect the sensitive information of the American public and essential benefits like Social Security and Medicare.

The Taxpayer Data Protection Act will:

• Protect the nation’s payment system from reckless and unlawful interference.
• Ensure that anyone accessing the system:
  • Has lawful authorization
  • Has a reliable track record of professional service
  • Has the necessary security clearance
  • Has made an ethics commitment and has no conflicts of interest
  • Has appropriate cyber security training
• Ensure that anyone who accesses the federal government’s central payment system with a personal financial conflict faces criminal penalties.
• Ensure that Congress and the public have notice of any unauthorized access and an assessment of any cyber and national security risks or interference with federal payments.

House Democrats stand united to pass this commonsense privacy legislation. If just three House Republicans side with the American people instead of Elon Musk, we can pass this critical bill.

No one elected Elon Musk, but Donald Trump and House Republicans have turned over the keys to the government’s most sensitive information to a billionaire donor with his own self-serving agenda and immense conflicts of interest.