Democratic Senator Flips Out as Elon Musk's DOGE Arrives at IRS Building

The Department of Government Efficiency has turned its focus toward the Internal Revenue Service, a move that has left at least one Democrat displeased.

According to Reuters, DOGE staffer Gavin Kliger arrived at the IRS headquarters in Washington on Thursday to begin an investigation into the agency’s operations.

Reuters also noted that separate directives were issued to the IRS to pinpoint “non-essential” contracts that could be eliminated.

The General Services Administration, which oversees numerous government contracts, has instructed the IRS to justify its ongoing consulting agreements. This suggests that the GSA will determine how many of these contracts will remain intact.

CNN reported that during his visit, Kliger was “just getting a lay of the land at the moment.” However, his presence alone reportedly unsettled some employees.

Kliger’s arrival at the IRS not only affected staff morale but also drew criticism from Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, who voiced his concerns on social media platform X.

“My office is hearing that DOGE is now at the IRS. That means Musk’s henchmen are in a position to dig through a trove of data about every taxpayer in America,” Wyden posted.

Instead of acknowledging DOGE’s efforts to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, Wyden attempted to rally support by suggesting that the visit might impact tax refund timelines.

“And if your refund is delayed, they could very well be the reason,” he warned.

Wyden’s argument appears weak.

Essentially, he is asking Americans to ignore how the federal government spends their money simply because the DOGE’s efforts could lead to delays in tax return processing.

DOGE Chairman Elon Musk met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday to discuss the department’s ongoing initiatives.

Speaking to the media, Musk stated that his agency plans to scrutinize bureaucrats whose financial assets far surpass what their government salaries would typically allow.

One such figure in Musk’s sights is former United States Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power.

Investigating the IRS is a natural progression for DOGE. If Power—and others in similar positions—are accumulating wealth far beyond their salaries, taxpayers have a right to understand why.

Wyden’s objections appear to be purely political and an attempt to spread fear, as no substantive argument exists against DOGE’s mission.

His party is facing an internal struggle and seems to be in search of something to oppose.