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Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is pursuing access to the Internal Revenue Service’s highly confidential taxpayer data system, according to a source familiar with the situation reported by CNN.

The IRS, which safeguards private information pertaining to millions of Americans’ tax returns, Social Security numbers, and banking details, has become the latest agency targeted by DOGE in its efforts to significantly streamline the federal workforce and eliminate what it views as waste, fraud, and misconduct within government operations.

Gavin Kliger, a software engineer working for DOGE, is expected to gain access to the system shortly, as indicated by the source. He will be stationed at the IRS for a minimum of 120 days, although approval had not been granted as of 9 p.m. ET on Sunday.

“Waste, fraud, and abuse have been deeply rooted in our flawed system for far too long. Direct access to the system is crucial to identify and resolve these issues,” stated White House deputy press secretary Harrison Fields to CNN. “DOGE will consistently bring to light the fraud it uncovers, as the American public deserves transparency regarding the expenditure of their tax dollars.”

Kliger will act as a senior adviser to the acting IRS commissioner, although the specifics of his role at the agency remain unclear. He possesses the necessary security clearance and is anticipated to sign a confidentiality agreement concerning tax return information, committing to destroy such materials upon concluding his time with the IRS, according to the source.

This agreement is part of a larger memorandum of understanding under consideration by the IRS, which would grant DOGE officials extensive access to agency systems, including the Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS), allowing IRS employees to view specific taxpayer accounts and banking details.

The IDRS holds some of the most sensitive financial data related to American taxpayers. The IRS asserts that this system is designed to safeguard taxpayer information from unauthorized access and to prevent unapproved IRS employees from altering taxpayers’ data. Only authorized personnel may access sensitive taxpayer data to perform official tasks.

“Taxpayer information must be protected from unauthorized disclosures related to his/her account and any unauthorized alterations,” states the IRS in its employee manual. “An IDRS user’s identity must be safeguarded from unauthorized personnel attempting to access or modify an account.”

Authorized personnel can access a range of information through the IDRS, including Social Security numbers, banking information, addresses, tax returns, and other personally identifiable information. This includes sensitive information about taxpayers, such as details of pending adoptions for claiming dependency exemptions and child care credits.

Strict protocols are enforced to prevent IRS employees from accessing their own files or those belonging to spouses, friends, relatives, colleagues, or anyone with whom they have a personal or business connection. The IRS also prohibits employees from viewing tax account information out of personal curiosity.

Violations of these IDRS protocols can result in severe consequences, including termination, fines, or imprisonment. In a notable case, an IRS contractor who leaked taxpayer information faced a five-year prison sentence in 2024.

Democratic Senators Ron Wyden from Oregon and Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts have raised significant concerns about the potential misuse of private taxpayer data in a letter addressed to the IRS. They requested details regarding any intentions to permit DOGE members access to IRS internal systems.

“The IRS must promptly inform the Senate Committee on Finance about the full scope of potential access to IRS systems and data provided to DOGE team members so the Committee can address any actions by DOGE personnel to access taxpayer records at the IRS, which may violate federal privacy laws,” their letter states.

The senators noted that these safeguards have historically protected against political appointees from previous administrations obtaining private tax records of numerous Americans.

“As you know, tax returns and related information enjoy robust legal privacy protections,” the letter outlines, adding, “granting DOGE officials extensive access to these systems could violate these statutes.”

This report has been updated with further insights.

Report contributed by CNN’s Alejandra Jaramillo.