Demands the President and HHS Secretary provide documents to the House regarding the "Department of Government Efficiency's" access to taxpayer and child data.
Danny Davis
Representative
IL-7
This bill mandates the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide the House of Representatives with documents and communications regarding the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) requests to access sensitive taxpayer and child data stored in the National Directory of New Hires and the Federal Parent Locator Service. The inquiry focuses on the legality, scope, and security implications of DOGE's data requests, as well as any related staff departures or unauthorized access attempts. The requested documents must be delivered to the House within 14 days.
House Demands Answers: Resolution Probes Alleged Seizure of Millions of Americans' Private Data by 'Department of Government Efficiency'
This resolution isn't a new law, but rather a formal demand from the House of Representatives directed at the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). It requires them to hand over specific documents and communications within 14 days concerning potential access by the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) to highly sensitive databases: the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) and the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS).
Unpacking the Data Vaults
So, what are these databases? The NDNH contains employment and wage information on nearly all working Americans, primarily used for child support enforcement and verifying eligibility for public assistance programs. The FPLS holds location and identifier information, also mainly for child support purposes. This resolution specifically asks about any requests or authorizations given to DOGE to access this legally protected information, potentially affecting data tied to over 40 million Americans, including detailed records on over 19 million individuals in the FPLS.
Following the Paper Trail
The House wants the full picture. They're requesting copies of any agreements (or lack thereof) detailing how DOGE accessed this data, what security measures were in place for any copies made, and the legal justification provided, especially if access was sought for reasons not explicitly allowed by law (like Section 453 of the Social Security Act). The request digs into whether standard safeguards like user limits, training, and background checks were bypassed. It also seeks information on any HHS staff departures (resignations, retirements, or terminations) from roles overseeing these databases after DOGE first asked for the data, and any evidence of DOGE attempting to misuse information obtained.
Why This Matters for Your Info
This inquiry gets right to the heart of data privacy and government oversight. It's asking critical questions about whether a federal entity potentially accessed vast amounts of your legally protected personal and financial information without proper authority or safeguards. Think about it: the NDNH holds data submitted by employers every time someone is hired. The FPLS contains sensitive identifiers. Congress is essentially investigating if the digital locks on this information were picked, by whom, why, and what happened to any copied data. The answers could reveal significant breaches of privacy protocols designed to protect everyday citizens.