74% of Americans Oppose DOGE Access to Taxpayer Data [Survey]

Since being established via executive order on the first day of President Trump’s second term, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has seen its share of headlines. DOGE, launched to find areas to reduce federal spending and increase government efficiency, is unique for a number of reasons, chief among them being billionaire Elon Musk as its public face and de facto leader.

Though the White House has publicly stated that Musk is acting as an advisor to the president and is not an official employee, Musk and DOGE have been making news regarding their access and handling of the personal data of U.S. citizens. Specifically, DOGE has reportedly sought access to data from multiple federal agencies, which includes Social Security, Medicaid, student loan, and even IRS taxpayer data at the individual level.

These actions have resulted in a number of lawsuits brought forward by different states, professional groups, and individual citizens regarding DOGE’s authority in accessing and handling sensitive data, with opponents alleging that DOGE’s actions may put the personal data of Americans at risk.

But how do Americans feel about DOGE having access to their data? In light of these ongoing data inquiries, our team at All About Cookies surveyed Americans to find out how they feel about the access Musk and DOGE have been given, how it has impacted their trust in the government, steps they may have taken to protect their personal data, and more.

Three in four Americans oppose DOGE access to personal information

When it comes to Elon Musk and DOGE, our survey made it clear that the majority of people stand in opposition of the department having access to the personal data of taxpayers.

Nearly three-quarters of respondents (74%) said that they oppose Musk and DOGE having access to sensitive personal data. Given that 61% of survey takers knew about the information access before taking our survey, it appears that the idea of Musk and company having access to this kind of information is a no-go for the majority of respondents regardless of context.

61% of Americans know DOGE has access to personal data

While Musk and DOGE have been making headlines regularly for the last few weeks, how many people are paying attention to the updates, specifically when it comes to their access to the personal data of taxpayers?

While the majority of respondents (61%) said they knew about DOGE’s alleged access to sensitive data, nearly 40% had no idea. That means around two-in-five people were unaware that their personal data may become the subject of DOGE scrutiny, as well as any allegations that DOGE is handling that data in improper and unsafe ways.

It is also clear that these allegations have had an eroding effect for many when it comes to trust in the government. Among those who were aware of Musk and DOGE’s alleged data access requests, 57% say they trust the government’s handling of their data less as a result, while just 15% indicated it has improved their opinion of how the government handles personal data.

Americans split on trust for Musk

As noted, Elon Musk is not an official government employee, instead acting in an advisory capacity. Though his title and responsibilities may have been unclear at times, this opacity hasn’t stopped him from being the public face of DOGE in the media.

Even before the DOGE news, Musk was among the least trusted and least liked names in tech, and high levels of distrust among the public were associated with the companies he runs, Tesla and X.

The general distrust of Musk also applies to his work with DOGE. When it comes to the safe handling of personal data, 57% of people say they distrust Musk to some degree, including 40% that say they completely distrust him. Comparatively, less than a quarter of respondents, just 22%, say they have some level of positive trust that Musk can safely handle sensitive personal information in his role at DOGE.

Nearly identical levels of trust and distrust in Elon Musk also apply when it comes to transparency and using personal data only for publicly-stated purposes as well as whether or not people believe that Musk will keep his personal and business interests out of his decisions and recommendations while leading DOGE.

How concerned are Americans about their personal data in DOGE’s hands?

While most people are aware that DOGE has allegedly had access to personal data and even more people stand opposed to that idea, how many people are actually doing something about it?

More than four-fifths of people (81%) said they are concerned about the safety of their personal data because of DOGE, including 52% that are very concerned. That shows that many people see potential risk and dangers in the actions of Musk and DOGE, and anticipate negative impacts on their own data.

Despite the high level of concern, less than a third of respondents have taken preventive or precautionary measures to try and protect themselves. Just 30% of those who said they were aware of DOGE’s alleged access to personal information have done something like updating their banking information, purchasing credit or identity theft monitoring services, or frozen their credit — all steps that can help mitigate the potential damage from identity theft and fraud should personal data leak or be misused because of DOGE.

Tips for keeping your personal data safe

No matter your thoughts on DOGE, it’s always a good idea to take steps to keep your data safe in light of an increasingly digital (and thus vulnerable) world. Here’s where you can start:

• Enroll in an identity theft protection plan: Automatically monitor your credit, SSN, financial accounts, and more for any unauthorized changes with one of the best ID theft monitoring plans out there.
• Freeze your credit (for free): Freezing your credit is an easy way to make sure no new accounts are added without your knowledge. But don’t get tricked into paying for the service — you can freeze your credit for free with just a phone call.
• Keep your browsing private with a virtual private network (VPN): Using a VPN to browse the internet hides your browsing and search history from everyone, even your internet service provider. Here’s why everyone should be using one.

Methodology

All About Cookies surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults aged 18 or older using a survey platform. Responses were collected February 14, 2025.