The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly gained access to sensitive Internal Revenue Service (IRS) documents. This move, which is part of Elon Musk’s latest attempt to eliminate government waste and fraud, grants his department access to the highly secure Integrated Data Retrieval System (IRDS).

This data contains tax information for millions of Americans about sources of income, family composition, tax deductions and health information. DOGE has not yet stated how it plans to use this access but has already implemented cuts and spending reductions across government agencies like USAID, the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Education.

A coalition of watchdog groups filed a lawsuit seeking to block the action, criticizing DOGE’s lack of knowledge about tax fraud and the potential to abuse access to IRS information. Accessing tax information for personal or otherwise unofficial objectives is highly illegal; employees face multiple security clearances and can only legally access certain IRDS information after giving an official reason to do so.

Michelle King, the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, stepped down from her position in protest over DOGE’s influence within the agency.