Casten, Stevens File Discharge Petition to End Musk’s Access to Taxpayer Data
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and Haley Stevens (MI-11) filed a discharge petition to start the process to force a vote on the Taxpayer Data Protection Act, House Democrats’ landmark legislation to ensure US private citizens’ data is not subject to reckless and unlawful interference from people like Elon Musk.
“Elon Musk has no business accessing American taxpayers’ private data,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “Congress has the tools to serve as a check on this unlawful abuse of power. But so far, Speaker Johnson has shown he is completely unwilling to stand up for the American people. All it takes is a handful of Republicans to join House Democrats, sign this discharge petition, and defend their constituents from Musk’s hack of the Treasury Department.”
“Elon Musk and other special government employees without the proper training, clearances, and accountability, should not have access to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s most sensitive payment systems,” said Rep. Stevens. “That’s why I’m encouraging all my colleagues to do the right thing and bring the Taxpayer Data Protection Act to the House Floor so we can make sure that only qualified individuals have access to our constituents' most personal information.”
The discharge petition needs to receive 218 signatures to compel floor consideration. The House discharge rule is Rule XV, Clause 2, and provides a means for Members to bring to the floor for consideration a public bill or resolution that has been referred to a committee but not reported.
In February, Reps. Casten and Stevens introduced the Taxpayer Data Protection Act alongside Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar. The legislation will:
- Protect the nation’s payment system from reckless and unlawful interference.
- Ensure that anyone accessing the system has lawful authorization and
- Has a reliable track-record of professional service
- Has the necessary security clearance
- Has made an ethics commitment and has no conflicts of interest
- Has appropriate cyber security training
- Ensure that anyone who accesses the system with a personal financial conflict faces criminal penalties.
- Ensure that Congress and the public have notice of any unauthorized access and an assessment of any cyber and national security risks or interference with federal payments.
Text of the Taxpayer Data Protection Act can be found here
Earlier this year, Rep. Casten led 154 House Democrats in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressing concern regarding Elon Musk and his allies’ access to the federal government’s payments system, which also includes sensitive personal data of U.S. citizens, and demanding answers as to the extent of Musk’s access.
###