Rep. Haley Stevens, a Former Treasury Official, Leads Bill to Keep Elon Musk Away from Treasury’s Payment System and Americans’ Most Sensitive Personal Information
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI), a former Schedule C Treasury official, and U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL) introduced the Taxpayer Data Protection Act, legislation that prevents unauthorized individuals from accessing the Department of the Treasury’s payment system and Americans’ most sensitive personal and business information.
“As a former Treasury official, who served in the Department as Chief of Staff to President Obama’s auto rescue, I am intimately familiar with the critical role the agency plays in our nation's economy – delivering payments to Americans and securing the full faith and credit of our nation. Elon Musk, or any other unelected billionaire with zero government experience, should not have access to Americans’ most private data, like Social Security numbers, addresses, birthdates, and bank account information,” said Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI). “It begs the question, what exactly is he trying to accomplish? Research on his opponents? Stopping payments on Americans’ earned benefits like Social Security and Medicare? This bill makes crystal clear the level of experience and security training those granted access to our nation’s bill paying system must have and will stop unlawful incursions and protect the American people. Thank you to my great colleague from Illinois Sean Casten for introducing this vital national security bill with me and to our Democratic leadership for standing up for what is right.”
“Elon Musk has no business accessing the personal data of private US citizens,” said Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL). “What does Mr. Musk want to do with information about what charities you give to, what your income streams are, or how much money you get in your Social Security check each month? Whatever it is, I’m proud to join my colleagues today to do everything in our power to stop him before he has the chance to do it.”
The Taxpayer Data Protection Act which garnered support from 142 House Democrats at introduction will curb corruption and protect privacy by ensuring that only trusted public servants without conflicts of interest and with appropriate security clearances can access the Treasury Department’s most sensitive systems.
Full text of the legislation can be found here.
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