Elon Musk's DOGE Begins IRS Audit

[Elmo]

DOGE is now auditing the IRS - turnabout is fairplay, is it not?

Elon Musk's DOGE begins IRS audit. What to know

A Musk aide entered the IRS offices in Washington for the first time on Thursday, raising concerns over cuts to the tax agency.

www.newsweek.com

Trump signs off on DOGE audit of IRS - Washington Examiner

Trump has long railed against the IRS, repeatedly claiming on the 2024 campaign trail that the office improperly targets conservatives for political reasons.

www.washingtonexaminer.com

Oh, has DOGE finally hired some professional auditors? That's a relief. It's hard to really call it an audit when it is relying on the financial expertise of a 19 year old coder

 

[bongsaway]

These clowns have neither the expertise or manpower to audit the IRS.

Happy day to you Allan.

 

[lynnwinslow]

That's because DOGE isn't allowed to do anything at all. Elon&Friends have no power to act. All they do is use read-only access to make recommendations to the Secretary of State. That's it.

One - do you have a link to confirm this?
Two - have they made any recommendations? (link)

 

[Teatime]

One - do you have a link to confirm this?

Yes, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been granted "read-only" access to the U.S. Treasury Department's federal payment systems. This access allows DOGE to view payment data without the ability to alter it. The Treasury Department has stated that this arrangement is intended to ensure that DOGE cannot delay or reroute payments for obligations such as Social Security and Medicare.

Treasury tells Congress that DOGE has ‘Read Only’ access to payment systems

A Treasury Department official has written a letter to federal lawmakers saying that a tech executive working with Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” will have “read-only access” to the government’s payment system.

apnews.com

However, there have been concerns regarding the extent of DOGE's access. Reports indicate that a DOGE employee was mistakenly granted "read-write" privileges, enabling the potential to modify the system. This error was promptly corrected, and the individual did not make any unauthorized changes.

Treasury was ‘fully aware of the risks’ posed by DOGE access to payment systems, court filing says

A Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee was accidentally given the ability to edit a sensitive Treasury payment database, but he never did so and the mistake was quickly corrected.

therecord.media

These developments have prompted investigations by government watchdogs, including the Treasury Department's Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office, to assess the security controls and implications of DOGE's access to these sensitive systems.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/14/gao-doge-treasury-payment-system-00204285?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Two - have they made any recommendations? (link)

As of February 14, 2025, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has made several recommendations and initiated actions aimed at reducing government expenditures and enhancing operational efficiency. Notable initiatives include:

Targeting Federal Agencies: DOGE has scrutinized various agencies, including NASA, the Department of Education, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, leading to contract cancellations and workforce reductions.

Elon Musk's DOGE has worked quickly to cut federal agencies. Here's a list of what's been targeted so far.

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has targeted federal agencies like USAID, CFPB, and NOAA to reduce government spending.

www.businessinsider.com

Reducing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs: Over 100 DEI-related contracts across 30 agencies have been terminated, resulting in approximately $1 billion in savings.

Proposing Defense Budget Cuts: The Pentagon is preparing for potential budget reductions by identifying outdated or surplus equipment for elimination, such as old drones and certain naval vessels.

https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/doge-department-of-defense-budget-cuts-prepares-0f7073fa?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Streamlining Regulatory Processes: Recommendations include expediting permitting processes, particularly for energy projects, and improving regulatory frameworks in agencies like the FDA and FCC.

https://www.myjournalcourier.com/opinion/article/it-s-doge-eat-doge-world-steve-pociask-20163262.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Implementing Workforce Optimization: An executive order issued on February 11, 2025, outlines plans to reduce the federal workforce through buyouts and restructuring, with 75,000 employees accepting buyout offers to date.

Elon Musk's DOGE has worked quickly to cut federal agencies. Here's a list of what's been targeted so far.

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has targeted federal agencies like USAID, CFPB, and NOAA to reduce government spending.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[SayMyName]

DOGE is now auditing the IRS - turnabout is fairplay, is it not?

Elon Musk's DOGE begins IRS audit. What to know

A Musk aide entered the IRS offices in Washington for the first time on Thursday, raising concerns over cuts to the tax agency.

www.newsweek.com

Trump signs off on DOGE audit of IRS - Washington Examiner

Trump has long railed against the IRS, repeatedly claiming on the 2024 campaign trail that the office improperly targets conservatives for political reasons.

www.washingtonexaminer.com

As the movement to take the tax burden off working Americans grows, this development is expected. For most of this nation's history the IRS and the income tax on working Americans did not exist. The current system was never meant to evolve into its present form, benefitting a few, and harming those who value work. This audit will no doubt reveal even more as to why it should be abolished.

The Case for Abolishing the IRS

The current American tax system is clearly a dysfunctional labyrinth and an oppressive cost burden on American citizens and businesses. So, how did the United States, a nation founded on liberty and limited government, get to this point? A historical look at the evolution of the American tax...

fee.org

 

[sanman]

of course doge could be less about to protect it. the IRS has rules and procedures to follow, what are doge's?

What are those of the IRS?

Remember when Trump's tax returns were leaked?

 

[ClaraD]

DOGE is now auditing the IRS - turnabout is fairplay, is it not?

Elon Musk's DOGE begins IRS audit. What to know

A Musk aide entered the IRS offices in Washington for the first time on Thursday, raising concerns over cuts to the tax agency.

www.newsweek.com

Trump signs off on DOGE audit of IRS - Washington Examiner

Trump has long railed against the IRS, repeatedly claiming on the 2024 campaign trail that the office improperly targets conservatives for political reasons.

www.washingtonexaminer.com

They aren’t auditors and I don’t want them touching taxpayer information especially after the published classified material on their site and after they were hacked because they left it wide open

 

[KevinKohler]

For me, this only gains legitimacy once they go after the dept of defence.

 

[ClaraD]

I bet they’ll find there are too many IRS audits of corporations and high income individuals!

Probably need more audits of poor people instead.

They plan on stopping all child tax credit payments and EITC payments. That’s probably why the order for the delay in processing them.

 

[ClaraD]

Oh, has DOGE finally hired some professional auditors? That's a relief. It's hard to really call it an audit when it is relying on the financial expertise of a 19 year old coder

I don’t think he’s actually a coder. He’s an amateur

 

[BirdinHand]

They plan on stopping all child tax credit payments and EITC payments. That’s probably why the order for the delay in processing them.

Hey, if they overpay they can just take those refunds right back out if DOGE says so I imagine

 

[ncguy]

What are those of the IRS?

Remember when Trump's tax returns were leaked?

of course no system is fool proof duh.

can you just go online and find anyone's tax returns for example? no. because..they have rules and procedures. one example

when you establish an online account do you need a password and such? yes. because..they have rules and procedures. one example.

if you want to know more, feel free to educate yourself.

 

[lynnwinslow]

Yes, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been granted "read-only" access to the U.S. Treasury Department's federal payment systems. This access allows DOGE to view payment data without the ability to alter it. The Treasury Department has stated that this arrangement is intended to ensure that DOGE cannot delay or reroute payments for obligations such as Social Security and Medicare.

Treasury tells Congress that DOGE has ‘Read Only’ access to payment systems

A Treasury Department official has written a letter to federal lawmakers saying that a tech executive working with Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” will have “read-only access” to the government’s payment system.

apnews.com

However, there have been concerns regarding the extent of DOGE's access. Reports indicate that a DOGE employee was mistakenly granted "read-write" privileges, enabling the potential to modify the system. This error was promptly corrected, and the individual did not make any unauthorized changes.

Treasury was ‘fully aware of the risks’ posed by DOGE access to payment systems, court filing says

A Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee was accidentally given the ability to edit a sensitive Treasury payment database, but he never did so and the mistake was quickly corrected.

therecord.media

These developments have prompted investigations by government watchdogs, including the Treasury Department's Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office, to assess the security controls and implications of DOGE's access to these sensitive systems.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/14/gao-doge-treasury-payment-system-00204285?utm_source=chatgpt.com

As of February 14, 2025, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has made several recommendations and initiated actions aimed at reducing government expenditures and enhancing operational efficiency. Notable initiatives include:

Targeting Federal Agencies: DOGE has scrutinized various agencies, including NASA, the Department of Education, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, leading to contract cancellations and workforce reductions.

Elon Musk's DOGE has worked quickly to cut federal agencies. Here's a list of what's been targeted so far.

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has targeted federal agencies like USAID, CFPB, and NOAA to reduce government spending.

www.businessinsider.com

Reducing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs: Over 100 DEI-related contracts across 30 agencies have been terminated, resulting in approximately $1 billion in savings.

Proposing Defense Budget Cuts: The Pentagon is preparing for potential budget reductions by identifying outdated or surplus equipment for elimination, such as old drones and certain naval vessels.

https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/doge-department-of-defense-budget-cuts-prepares-0f7073fa?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Streamlining Regulatory Processes: Recommendations include expediting permitting processes, particularly for energy projects, and improving regulatory frameworks in agencies like the FDA and FCC.

https://www.myjournalcourier.com/opinion/article/it-s-doge-eat-doge-world-steve-pociask-20163262.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Implementing Workforce Optimization: An executive order issued on February 11, 2025, outlines plans to reduce the federal workforce through buyouts and restructuring, with 75,000 employees accepting buyout offers to date.

Elon Musk's DOGE has worked quickly to cut federal agencies. Here's a list of what's been targeted so far.

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has targeted federal agencies like USAID, CFPB, and NOAA to reduce government spending.

www.businessinsider.com

Yes, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been granted "read-only" access to the U.S. Treasury Department's federal payment systems. This access allows DOGE to view payment data without the ability to alter it. The Treasury Department has stated that this arrangement is intended to ensure that DOGE cannot delay or reroute payments for obligations such as Social Security and Medicare.

Treasury tells Congress that DOGE has ‘Read Only’ access to payment systems

A Treasury Department official has written a letter to federal lawmakers saying that a tech executive working with Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” will have “read-only access” to the government’s payment system.

apnews.com

However, there have been concerns regarding the extent of DOGE's access. Reports indicate that a DOGE employee was mistakenly granted "read-write" privileges, enabling the potential to modify the system. This error was promptly corrected, and the individual did not make any unauthorized changes.

Treasury was ‘fully aware of the risks’ posed by DOGE access to payment systems, court filing says

A Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee was accidentally given the ability to edit a sensitive Treasury payment database, but he never did so and the mistake was quickly corrected.

therecord.media

These developments have prompted investigations by government watchdogs, including the Treasury Department's Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office, to assess the security controls and implications of DOGE's access to these sensitive systems.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/14/gao-doge-treasury-payment-system-00204285?utm_source=chatgpt.com

A Perspective On the Amazing Cuts Musk Has Delivered

While we will never know the impact of the Musk budget cuts nor the actual holders of those contracts or what products and services those contracts provided due to their protection under the Presidential Records Act. However we do have a perspective. On the DOGE website it lists 3 major sources...

debatepolitics.com

 

[Cordelier]

Sorry I missed your birthday, Sanman. It was yesterday, right? I don't mean as an annual event - I mean literally yesterday. You had to have been born yesterday to be this much of a rube.

"I trust Elon Musk implicitly because he says he believes the same things I do..." *LOL* Jesus.... get a grip, man. Don't be such a hayseed.

 

[Yakshi]

These clowns have neither the expertise or manpower to audit the IRS.

These clowns have neither the expertise nor manpower to ________ the __________.

To successfully complete the sentence, choose any two words.

 

[sanman]

Sorry I missed your birthday, Sanman. It was yesterday, right? I don't mean as an annual event - I mean literally yesterday. You had to have been born yesterday to be this much of a rube.

"I trust Elon Musk implicitly because he says he believes the same things I do..." *LOL* Jesus.... get a grip, man. Don't be such a hayseed.

Give me your scenario where Elon Musk abuses this access. I'm waiting, I'm listening.

 

[sanman]

of course no system is fool proof duh.

can you just go online and find anyone's tax returns for example? no. because..they have rules and procedures. one example

when you establish an online account do you need a password and such? yes. because..they have rules and procedures. one example.

if you want to know more, feel free to educate yourself.

And yet Trump's tax returns were leaked by someone at the IRS who had access to them.

 

[Cordelier]

Give me your scenario where Elon Musk abuses this access. I'm waiting, I'm listening.

That's the point. I don't know... you don't know. Nobody knows. There are no safeguards, no oversight, no checks, no balances.

Look, I get what the stated goal of this whole DOGE exercise is... I just don't think this is the way to do it. There's a right and legal way where the safeguards and procedures are protected, and then there is this - strip out all of the safeguards, ignore the laws, and just go balls to the walls, consequences be damned. The situation is rife with the potential for major - even catastrophic - unintended consequences.

I keep posting it over and over again here - the GAO has been auditing the Government's accounts for over 100 years now. They know where the bodies are buried. They know where the waste and abuse and inefficiencies are. They're completely transparent and reliably non-partisan, and have the accounting expertise. They've got a database of thousands of recommendations for addressing waste posted on their website. The President could start implementing them today if he was truly serious about the issue and willing to face the political fallout that has kept a lot of these recommendations from being implemented already.

Bottom line is this - it's easy to come out and say "The Government is riddled with waste and inefficiency". Anyone can do it. You don't need unlimited access to Government payments to make that claim. It's the easiest thing in the world to say it. The tough part is actually addressing the situation. GAO already has the targets zeroed in - we don't Musk for that - all we've got to do is be willing to strike them.

 

[sanman]

That's the point. I don't know... you don't know. Nobody knows. There are no safeguards, no oversight, no checks, no balances.

And that's my point about the potential for abuse by the IRS. I don't know... you don't know. Nobody knows. There are no safeguards, no oversight, no checks, no balances. It's all hidden from view.

Look, I get what the stated goal of this whole DOGE exercise is... I just don't think this is the way to do it. There's a right and legal way where the safeguards and procedures are protected, and then there is this - strip out all of the safeguards, ignore the laws, and just go balls to the walls, consequences be damned. The situation is rife with the potential for major - even catastrophic - unintended consequences.

I keep posting it over and over again here - the GAO has been auditing the Government's accounts for over 100 years now. They know where the bodies are buried. They know where the waste and abuse and inefficiencies are. They're completely transparent and reliably non-partisan, and have the accounting expertise. They've got a database of thousands of recommendations for addressing waste posted on their website. The President could start implementing them today if he was truly serious about the issue and willing to face the political fallout that has kept a lot of these recommendations from being implemented already.

Bottom line is this - it's easy to come out and say "The Government is riddled with waste and inefficiency". Anyone can do it. You don't need unlimited access to Government payments to make that claim. It's the easiest thing in the world to say it. The tough part is actually addressing the situation. GAO already has the targets zeroed in - we don't Musk for that - all we've got to do is be willing to strike them.

What I get is that you want to cast aspersion on auditors to avoid the entire exercise of auditing.

GAO hasn't been able to stop the abuse of power by govt agencies. They've long ago been de-fanged and neutered. That's why the abuses have been accumulating at an increasing pace.
It's time for a new watchdog - DOGE.

 

[Cordelier]

And that's my point about the potential for abuse by the IRS. I don't know... you don't know. Nobody knows. There are no safeguards, no oversight, no checks, no balances. It's all hidden from view.



What I get is that you want to cast aspersion on auditors to avoid the entire exercise of auditing.

GAO hasn't been able to stop the abuse of power by govt agencies. They've long ago been de-fanged and neutered. That's why the abuses have been accumulating at an increasing pace.
It's time for a new watchdog - DOGE.

It isn't the GAO's job to eliminate waste and inefficiency. Their job is to find it, and diagnose it. It's the job of the policymakers to address it. The reason they don't - and this isn't just Trump - it's every Administration - Democrat or Republican alike - is because nut-cutting is hard. Especially so when they're your nuts.

But that isn't what Trump and Musk are doing is it? They pick their targets for political reasons, then they manufacture an "alternate reality" about how wasteful they are to go after it. And because you agree with his political reasons, you don't give a flying **** about what the facts actually are.

Like I said before, GAO has identified thousands of targets for waste-cutting. Some are big, some are small. Some they've identified as priority targets. The list is ready to go - there are no questions of transparency, and everything on it is there because it is actual waste, not for partisan reasons.

If Trump were truly serious about that problem, that is where he would start.

But Jesus, c'mon man... Trump is a billionaire. Musk is the richest man in the world. What possible incentive could they have for slashing IRS agents??? Nothing to see there.

 

[multivita-man]

Turns out, DOGE isn't really auditing the IRS...he's going to end up auditing YOU, the taxpayer.

Musk Team Seeks Access to I.R.S. System With Taxpayers’ Records

A White House spokesman said that the initiative called the Department of Government Efficiency needed to review data to fix waste within the agency.

www.nytimes.com

The Internal Revenue Service is preparing to give a team member working with Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency access to sensitive taxpayer data, people familiar with the matter said.

The systems at the I.R.S. contain the private financial data tied to millions of Americans, including their tax returns, Social Security numbers, addresses, banking details and employment information.

I sooo want to say MAGA-tards defend or otherwise explain the bold part away.

“Waste, fraud and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long,” Harrison Fields, a White House spokesman, said. “It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it.”

We have inspectors general to audit agency waste, fraud, and abuse. Congress can request additional oversight, which shouldn't be a problem given the House and Senate are under Republican control and would imagine it wouldn't be too hard to peel away some less partisan Dems to support this as well.

What they're proposing is taking the most sensitive data we have that we are compelled to send to the government and giving it to some third party that doesn't have legitimate statutory or regulatory basis for accessing that data.

I never want to hear conservative ****-knuckles complain about the intrusiveness of the federal government ever again. "Conservatives" can take all their Alex Jones paranoia and shove it up their asses.

 

[ncguy]

And yet Trump's tax returns were leaked by someone at the IRS who had access to them.

an exception doesn't prove they dont have rules and procedures. duh.
nothing is fool proof.

but audits done in a rush by untrained people aren't audits, they are fishing expeditions..finding such "abuse" as the "$50M condoms for gaza!" stupidity.

 

[Luce]

How is it being protected by the IRS? What would DOGE be any less able to protect it?

They've already posted classified information on their crappy website.

What's a little confidential information next to that.

 

[Jezcoe]

How is it being protected by the IRS? What would DOGE be any less able to protect it?

Why does DOGE need citizens private tax information?

What use could it be to them?

 

[ncguy]

Why does DOGE need citizens private tax information?

What use could it be to them?

they are finding "waste, fraud, and abuse!"
they said so themselves.
like the "$50M of condoms for gaza!" they found!

many people are saying they are the best at finding waste, fraud, and abuse. People come up to trump with tears in their eyes and thank him for not sending those condoms to gaza!