Trump, Musk, DOGE access at CMS needs investigation, Democratic lawmakers say

Author(s):

Richard Payerchin

Key Takeaways

Lawmakers demand an investigation into DOGE's access to sensitive health data at CMS, fearing misuse for financial or political purposes.
Concerns arise over potential destabilization of the healthcare system and privacy violations affecting millions of Americans.
Federal laws protect health information privacy, yet DOGE's need for access remains undisclosed, raising transparency and oversight issues.
Lawmakers fear the Trump administration could weaponize health data to target patients and providers, urging accountability and protection.

Legislators question Health and Human Services leaders about potential for wrongful disclosure of private health information.

medicare health care concept: © Satori Studio - stock.adobe.com

Federal inspectors should investigate the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) snooping at the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said Democratic members of Congress.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) must examine how and why DOGE leader and billionaire Elon Musk and “his minions” and “lackeys” have access to sensitive health care information about millions of Americans. The demand came in letters sent Feb. 7 by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee; Rep. Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey), ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee; and Rep. Richard E. Neal (D-Massachusetts), ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon)

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey)

Rep. Richard Neal (D-Massachusetts)

The three lawmakers sent queries to Juliet T. Hodgkins, HHS principal deputy inspector general, and HHS Acting Secretary Dorothy A. Fink, MD. CMS oversees Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces, totaling health insurance coverage for 160 million people and distributing an estimated $1.5 trillion in payments a year, they said.

“Disruptions or improper access to these systems risk destabilizing our nation’s health care system — DOGE’s actions represent an attack on both the health care system and privacy of tens of millions of Americans,” the legislators’ letter said. “This information is highly sensitive and could have significant commercial value, as well as competitive advantage for individuals seeking to use it for financial gain. Likewise, it could be misappropriated to target American citizens and businesses for political means.”

Federal laws protect the privacy of individual health information and there has been no public disclosure about why DOGE has need for it, the lawmakers’ letter to Fink said. They said they are concerned the administration of President Donald J. Trump “could weaponize this information to individually target patients and their health care providers.”

“Without appropriate oversight, transparency, and accountability, our nation’s health care system — and the privacy of millions of Americans — are at the political whims of President Trump, Congressional Republicans, and DOGE,” the legislators said. They asked Fink and Hodgkins questions about what information the DOGE representatives are seeking and how they are using it.

Wyden, Pallone and Neal cited news reports from The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, which on Feb. 3 began reporting about DOGE inquiries at HHS and CMS. On Feb. 5, CMS issued a brief statement: “CMS has two senior Agency veterans — one focused on policy and one focused on operations — who are leading the collaboration with DOGE, including ensuring appropriate access to CMS systems and technology. We are taking a thoughtful approach to see where there may be opportunities for more effective and efficient use of resources in line with meeting the goals of President Trump.”