The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has secured expanded access to critical financial data from multiple federal agencies following a court victory on Tuesday. In a significant development, a member of Musk’s DOGE team is also poised to receive access to Internal Revenue Service operations, sparking widespread debate over the scope of their influence.

According to a report by The New York Times, the IRS is preparing to grant Gavin Kliger, a young software engineer working with DOGE, access to sensitive taxpayer information. He is expected to serve as a senior adviser to the IRS’s acting commissioner, though the agency is still finalizing the terms of his assignment. This move has raised alarm among some officials, who worry that it could set a precedent for political appointees gaining access to confidential taxpayer records.

Concerns have emerged over the potential misuse of this information, particularly in terms of targeting political opponents or leaking private citizens’ data. Lily Batchelder, a Treasury Department official during the Biden administration, noted on social media that she could not recall any previous instance in which political appointees had direct access to the IRS database. Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren have also called for more transparency regarding the extent of DOGE’s access and oversight mechanisms.

While Musk’s critics argue that his new authority grants him unprecedented control over federal financial data, some have pointed out that breaches of taxpayer information have already occurred in the past—including a leak that directly impacted Musk himself. In 2021, an IRS official provided ProPublica with confidential tax returns from Musk and other billionaires, including Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffett, fueling public debate over the taxation of the ultra-wealthy. The irony of this situation has not been lost on Musk’s supporters, who argue that his role at DOGE is aimed at preventing such leaks and abuses of government resources.

President Donald Trump, who appointed Musk to lead DOGE, remains fully supportive of the billionaire’s mission to overhaul government spending. White House spokesman Harrison Fields emphasized the administration’s commitment to eliminating inefficiencies and corruption. “Waste, fraud, and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long,” Fields stated. “It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it.”

Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan dealt a blow to Democratic-led efforts to restrict DOGE’s reach. A coalition of 14 Democratic state attorneys general, led by New Mexico, had petitioned the court to block DOGE from accessing financial data from seven federal agencies. Their argument centered on claims that Musk’s role at DOGE is unconstitutional since he was never confirmed by the Senate.

Chutkan denied their request for an immediate restraining order, stating that the plaintiffs had failed to demonstrate clear and irreparable harm. In her ruling, she acknowledged the valid concerns about Musk’s unchecked authority but emphasized that the court could not grant broad restrictions without solid evidence of imminent damage.

“Plaintiffs legitimately call into question what appears to be the unchecked authority of an unelected individual and an entity that was not created by Congress and over which it has no oversight,” Chutkan wrote. “However, in these circumstances, it must be indisputable that this court acts within the bounds of its authority.” She ruled that without “clear evidence of imminent, irreparable harm,” she could not impose the sweeping restrictions the Democratic attorneys general were requesting.

Notably, Chutkan also included a pointed footnote in her ruling, suggesting that the Justice Department may have exaggerated the extent of DOGE’s influence over personnel decisions within federal agencies. “Defense counsel is reminded of their duty to make truthful representations to the court,” she wrote, hinting at possible discrepancies in the government’s legal arguments.

Since Trump’s return to the White House, DOGE has been rapidly placing personnel within federal agencies, a move aimed at reducing trillions in government expenditures. This aggressive restructuring has already triggered multiple legal challenges, with Chutkan now at the center of yet another high-profile case involving the Trump administration. Her previous involvement in overseeing the now-dismissed January 6 criminal case against Trump adds another layer of political tension to the ongoing dispute.

With Musk continuing to wield considerable influence over government efficiency efforts, the battle over DOGE’s authority is far from over. While supporters argue that these measures are necessary to eliminate government waste, critics warn that unchecked access to financial data could set a dangerous precedent. The coming months will likely see further legal battles as both sides seek clarity on the scope of Musk’s power and the potential implications for federal oversight.