Press Releases

Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement after it was reported by the Washington Post that the President’s billionaire kitchen cabinet is seeking access to payment systems that include confidential tax, Social Security, and payment information about individual Americans and businesses:

“A purge and hostile takeover of the federal government, one that invades Americans’ privacy and enriches the wealthy class, is underway. The President and his allies have made clear that Americans’ private and sensitive Social Security, Medicare, and tax information is for sale to his billionaire kitchen cabinet as they seek to consolidate executive power, use insider information to secure federal contacts, and supercharge their own enrichment. 

“Our institutions are trusted to manage the most sensitive and personal information of every American taxpayer, both individual and businesses. We will not be quiet in the face of the President’s recklessness and quest to sell out the American people and silence anyone standing up for what’s right. The American people must be able to trust that their information is being safeguarded, especially from those whose only interest is their own wealth. It is unconscionable that respected public servants with superb reputations, who have served the American people diligently for decades, are being pushed out by this Administration for refusing to bend the knee. It is dangerous and jeopardizes the safety and economic security of every citizen.

“The Republican hypocrisy is on full display, feigning outrage when they perceive their allies to be under scrutiny, but utter silence when the American people are under attack. We cannot stand by and allow our services to the people to be politicized and bought and sold to the highest bidder. The stakes are too high and the consequences too grave.”

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