Johnson Helps Introduce Bill to Stop Musk from Invading Americans’ Privacy

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32) helped introduce the Taxpayer Data Protection Act, which will stop those with conflicts of interest or without a security clearance from accessing the highly sensitive Treasury Department payment system, which is responsible for Social Security and Medicare benefits.

“My office has received hundreds of calls from Texans who are worried about individuals like Elon Musk gaining access to their private information,” said Johnson. “Like them, I am furious that our personal information has been handed over to people who should not have access to it. All of this is unconstitutional and part of Trump’s coup to consolidate power away from the American people. That is why I was proud to help introduce the Taxpayer Data Protection Act with my Democratic colleagues. I will always fight to protect Texans and their personal information, especially as Republicans jeopardize the safety of this data and the lives of my neighbors back home.”  

The Taxpayer Data Protection Act will:

• Protect the nation’s payment system from reckless and unlawful interference.
• Ensure that anyone accessing the system:
  • Has lawful authorization
  • Has a reliable track record of professional service
  • Has the necessary security clearance
  • Has made an ethics commitment and has no conflicts of interest
  • Has appropriate cyber security training
• Ensure that anyone who accesses the federal government’s central payment system with a personal financial conflict faces criminal penalties.
• Ensure that Congress and the public have notice of any unauthorized access and an assessment of any cyber and national security risks or interference with federal payments.

Read the text of the legislation here.

 Congresswoman Julie Johnson represents Texas’ 32^nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving on the Homeland Security Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Administration Committee. Her district includes parts of Collin, Dallas, and Denton Counties.

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