Staff Reports
Elon Musk has found himself at the center of yet another controversy, but this time it revolves around a troubling government data leak that lends itself to a hearty chuckle—or a few eye rolls. Critics have been up in arms, directly blaming Musk for wanting access to sensitive taxpayer data when, in reality, the IRS has been having a rough time keeping its own house in order. Like a contestant on a terrible game show, the agency has been handing out notifications to thousands, informing them that their tax information is now the shiny new gossip of a prestigious news organization.
That news organization happens to be ProPublica, which has been funded in part by none other than George Soros and a variety of his fellow travelers. With an almost insatiable appetite for scandal, ProPublica has pried open over 50 “massive” stories from files leaked by a government contractor, Charles E. Littlejohn. The results could almost be mistaken for reality television drama—with a side of liberal regret. While Musk’s push for modernization and efficiency at the IRS is mocked and scoffed at by many on the left, the shocking truth is that the agency’s security is so shoddy, it practically rolled out the welcome mat for information thieves.
This isn’t just a case of the rich and famous getting their dirty laundry aired out. A recent class-action lawsuit revealed that a broad swath of taxpayers may have had their information leaked—not just the billionaires everyone loves to hate. This could include anyone from small business owners to middle-class families, yet the focus remains fixated on the wealthy, as if they were the only victims. Lawyers suggest that hundreds of thousands of individuals could have been affected, raising concerns about the safety and privacy of their financial details.
Littlejohn, the mastermind behind this privacy debacle, has already taken a plea deal and is serving time for his crimes. Liberals seem to celebrate him as a sort of martyr for social justice, arguing that exposing the tax practices of the wealthy is a noble cause. Meanwhile, he’s caught more accusations than a cat caught in a room full of rocking chairs, and his GoFundMe account is filled by those who think his actions are simply heroic. Compassion for Littlejohn won’t save the average American, but it sure suggests that ideological lines are drawn—even when data security is at stake.
One the largest thefts of taxpayer data occurred in 2016, when hackers exploited weaknesses in an online IRS program that provides filers with previous tax returns. https://t.co/KLSBqGYduK
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) February 25, 2025
At its core, the issue isn’t the supposed danger Musk poses by wanting access to IRS data. Instead, it’s the IRS’s documented history of catastrophic security failures—like the infamous 2016 hack that swiped data from over 300,000 taxpayers. With new reports pointing to ongoing weaknesses, it’s clear that the agency has been more engaged in playing catch-up than actually safeguarding critical taxpayer information. The idea of entrusting them with more sensitive data sounds about as wise as letting a toddler handle the family jewels.
In deflecting the attention back to Musk and his supposed “Doge dive” into the IRS, opponents are conveniently missing the larger picture. If anything, Musk’s involvement could be a blessing in disguise, shedding some much-needed light on an agency that seems to have lost its way in the dark. The revelations from ProPublica have opened a Pandora’s box, and with no clear sign of progress from the IRS to fix its issues, one has to wonder: who truly deserves the blame here? Maybe, just maybe, it’s time for a little accountability—and not from the guy who’s trying to clean up the mess.
