Reps. Chu, Moore Welcome Speaker Johnson’s Commitment to Ways and Means Committee Hearing on Musk’s Access to Americans’ Sensitive Data

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Gwen Moore (WI-04), both members of the House Ways and Means Committee which has jurisdiction over the Treasury Department, sought yesterday to join a scheduled meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Jason Smith (MO-07) in the Speaker’s Office.

Following the conversation with Speaker Johnson in which he was unsure about what DOGE was doing with its unprecedented access to sensitive taxpayer information, the Congresswomen sent a letter today formally welcome his commitment, as reported in The Washington Times, to holding a hearing in the Ways and Means Committee next week. The hearing would concern DOGE’s access to the Treasury Department’s payment system, which includes Americans’ Social Security numbers and banking information.

“We look forward to Treasury Secretary Bessent and the Head of DOGE, Mr. Elon Musk, appearing before the Committee next week and trust that the Office of the Speaker will work with the Committee to ensure they appear,” the Members wrote in the letter.

“A federal court today blocked much of DOGE’s ability to access American’s personal information held at Treasury. I’m thankful for our constitutional system of separation of powers and that courts have begun to step in to block the Trump-Vance Administration’s lawless actions,” addedRep. Chu. “But we still have no transparency into how this was allowed to happen in the first place, and what the Administration plans to do with this data and access to Treasury’s systems. The House Ways and Means Committee must conduct rigorous oversight immediately into DOGE’s activities this month and prevent additional security lapses, unlawful access to private data, and illegal freezing of taxpayer dollars designated to go to communities around the country.”

“The phones in my office, and in many of my colleagues, have been ringing off the hook since these troubling allegations emerged with constituents concerned about who may have access to their personal information that they expect the government to protect. The American people should be able to trust their sensitive information is safe, but that trust has been broken by DOGE’s rogue actions.” saidRep. Moore. “This issue demands full congressional scrutiny.  I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure we get the answers the American people deserve.”

Click here to read the full letter.

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