Elon Musk's DOGE Gains Access to Sensitive Federal Income Data

The Department of Government Efficiency was granted access to a child support database, overriding privacy concerns and objections from career officials.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) granted DOGE 'read-only' access to the Federal Parent Locator System, which includes sensitive income and benefits data for nearly all U.S. workers.
Career civil servants had objected to DOGE's access, citing privacy risks and potential violations of federal confidentiality laws.
DOGE's stated goal is to identify waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs by cross-referencing traditionally separate government systems, including tax and benefits records.
Multiple lawsuits have been filed against DOGE over its access to other federal databases, with critics raising concerns about data security, transparency, and the legality of its operations.
The Trump administration has faced scrutiny over Elon Musk's role in DOGE, with conflicting statements about whether he formally leads the group or serves as an advisor.