Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has caused uproar almost from the moment of its inception.

DOGE is not an official government department, despite its name. Only Congress can create new departments. But DOGE is an effort by President Trump and Musk to radically reform — and reduce — the size of government.

At one time, Musk had suggested it was possible to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. More recently he has indicated that half of that figure would be more realistic.

But even accomplishing $1 trillion in cuts would require massive cuts to government services and to its payroll.

The idea is welcomed by fiscal hawks, MAGA supporters and Musk’s own legion of fans.

But critics say DOGE is going to hurt millions of Americans by axing programs that they need, or the personnel that support them.

They also express concern about conflicts of interest, given that Musk’s companies have billions of dollars in federal contracts.

Here are the five biggest controversies so far.

Access to Treasury Department — and taxes?

Perhaps no single DOGE-related furor has captured the public imagination so much as his team’s access at the Treasury Department.

The issue is whether Musk and his acolytes have access to individual taxpayer data, which is subject to strict disclosure rules. At its most basic, the question is, “Can Elon Musk see your tax returns?”

The row has grown more intense in recent days after several news organizations reported that DOGE personnel had sought access to a specific system — the Integrated Data Retrieval System, or IDRS — which is home to some of the most sensitive information.

The Washington Post referred to IDRS as a system that “includes detailed financial information about every taxpayer, business and nonprofit in the country.”

The Post also noted that the system “enables tax agency employees to access IRS records — including personal identification numbers — and bank information.”

A Trump administration official told the Post this effort was being carried out “legally and with the appropriate security........

© The Hill