Elon Musk Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is reportedly preparing to launch a high-stakes hackathon next week, aiming to create a so-called “mega API” that could unlock access to sensitive IRS taxpayer data. According to Wired, the event is being quietly organized by two DOGE insiders embedded at the Internal Revenue Service — Gavin Kliger and Sam Corcos.
Corcos, who also serves as CEO of healthtech company Levels, has been pitching the idea internally as a bold step toward centralizing government data systems. His stated goal? To build “one new API to rule them all,” Wired reports.
If the project moves forward as envisioned, it could give cloud platforms and third-party tools a streamlined way to extract key taxpayer information — including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, tax return data, and employment records. Critics say this could open a backdoor to one of the most sensitive government databases in existence.
While technical details remain vague, insiders told Wired that parts of the API infrastructure would likely be outsourced to external contractors. Among the names frequently floated? Palantir, the controversial data analytics firm known for its deep ties to government agencies and its work in defense and surveillance sectors.
One unnamed IRS employee voiced alarm, calling the initiative “an open door controlled by Musk for all Americans’ most sensitive information, with none of the rules that normally secure that data.”
The timing and handling of the hackathon — set to take place as early as next week — have only amplified those concerns. It remains unclear what oversight exists, whether privacy safeguards are in place, or how such a massive API would comply with federal data protection standards.
While DOGE markets itself as a fast-moving, innovation-first division aimed at making government services more efficient, critics say this latest move may be too reckless, especially when taxpayer data is at stake.
