A controversial directive from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), pushed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has triggered alarm bells within the IRS. Demands for detailed weekly reports and the arrival of a polarizing external programmer have raised serious questions about the safety of sensitive federal data in the United States.

Tensions in Washington D.C. have reached a boiling point. On February 22, thousands of federal employees received a mass email from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)—the agency responsible for managing the U.S. civil service—with a strict order: submit a five-point summary of weekly activities by the following Monday.

Security Warning!

Kathleen Walters, the Head of Privacy at the IRS (Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. tax agency), warned that forcing 100,000 employees to detail their tasks via email could lead to the leakage of confidential taxpayer information, which would constitute a federal crime.

This sudden pressure unfolds under the influence of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative linked to Elon Musk aimed at aggressively restructuring and intervening in federal agencies to reduce spending and bureaucracy.

The Gavin Kliger Incident: Intrusion and Tension

The crisis did not start with emails. On February 13, the IRS headquarters witnessed a surreal episode. Gavin Kliger, a Berkeley graduate and former Databricks employee, entered the agency's lobby without prior notice.

Kliger, hired by the OPM to work with the DOGE team, made a series of immediate and bold demands:

  • Full access to computer systems containing sensitive taxpayer data.
  • Assignment of an official agency phone and computer.
  • An urgent meeting with the acting IRS Commissioner, Doug O’Donnell.

According to Traci DiMartini, IRS Human Capital lead, the young programmer exhibited a brusque attitude and refused to comply with mandatory agency protocols, which include essential tax audits and training on ethics and data privacy.

Ideological Profile Under Scrutiny

Kliger's background has sparked intense debate. Digital investigations revealed he is a fervent supporter of Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Furthermore, activity on the social network X (formerly Twitter) has linked him to white nationalist figures and the writing of articles defending nominees such as Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth.

Key Actor Role / Connection Main Conflict
Gavin Kliger Programmer (DOGE/OPM) Demanded access to sensitive data without auditing.
Kathleen Walters IRS Privacy Chief Warned of federal crime risks due to reporting mandates.
Elon Musk DOGE Leader Driving the restructuring of federal agencies.

Source: IMAGO