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Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) grilled Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on reports that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is creating a massive government database with Americans’ sensitive personal information.

Bessent refused to answer whether he supported the central government database and could not explain how he would protect the financial and tax data of millions of Americans fed into it from abuse or a data breach.

The video can be found here, and the transcript is below.

DelBene: Mr. Secretary, do you support the government having a consolidated database containing Americans' sensitive financial health and personal information?

Bessent: I support protecting Americans –

DelBene: Do you support the consolidated database?

Bessent: I support protecting Americans' personal –

DelBene: So, I think it's very concerning that you're not able to say, “No.” This is not a partisan question. In fact, just last week, Republican Representative Warren Davidson responded to reports that DOGE is merging huge sets of data from across federal agencies into a centralized repository. He said, “It's dangerous when you start combining all those data points on an individual into one database. It's a power that history says will eventually be abused.” While I could not agree more and would also add that this kind of database would be a gold mine for malicious actors who are eager to exploit American sensitive data. Mr. Secretary, Section 6103 sets forth the confidentiality and disclosure rules for tax returns and tax information. Just because DOGE wants to compile people's sensitive information into one place, doesn't mean the confidentiality rules go away. Is that correct?

Bessent: We adhere to 6103.

DelBene: So, it seems like you know that should be a simple one too. We should absolutely be clear that the confidentiality rules did not go away. In fact, earlier in this hearing, you asserted that the Treasury Department is following, I think you said, the proper provisions within the Privacy Act, all proper provisions within the Privacy Act, and Section 6103. So, my question for you is, how can we be sure that's happening? I mean, especially knowing that the President illegally fired 18 inspectors general, including Treasury – Acting Treasury IG Sherpa. How do we know? I'm sorry, you're just – you saying that isn't good enough. We're an oversight body. How do we know?

Bessent: Again, I will say that we are following the law and that –

DelBene: But we need – that's not good enough, Mr. Secretary. We should have officials within Treasury coming. We should – this is a statement to my colleagues on the other –

Bessent: I'm here today –

DelBene: But you're not answering how we know that. You're just saying we are.

Bessent: What would an acceptable answer be to how do we know?

DelBene: Let's bring them, let's bring people who are building a database. Let's go through the details of exactly what you are doing with that data. What protections are in place that we should have hearings doing that. In fact, we requested hearings on this from our partners on the other side of the aisle, refused to bring people from DOGE, et cetera into this committee, so we can be sure that consolidated a database –

Bessent: A judge in the Southern District of New York has ruled that all of our protocols are –

DelBene: Mr. Secretary. We are a co-equal branch of government. We are the oversight body. I'm answering – I asked that question because it is part of my job not to have you just say it. So let's look at it. I think because we actually have the authority to get that detail. We are oversight. We are not just here to have you say, don't worry about it. We are here to get detail. And I want you to be clear that it helps – This is a risk to the American people. This is sensitive personal information. There is no clarity on how this is being protected. Early on in this administration, people are given access to information with no controls. We have not had folks come into hearings. That's not good enough, Mr. Secretary, and I'm supportive of making sure that we are using technology in smart ways. I'm also very supportive of making sure that we are protecting people's personal information and we are following the law. 6103 is clear, and there is no and now this consolidation, there's no approval on how this consolidation takes place. And you can't even be clear to me that you that you know you're – about where you stand in terms of making that happening. So I don't think we're getting the information.

Bessent: So, Representative, maybe it did not filter up to you, but we provided a staff-level briefing several weeks ago.

DelBene: Then let's bring folks – I want to ask the questions. Frankly, it's not about whether or not you had a staff-level brief. Let's bring experts to answer detailed questions in this body, so that we get those answers. You know, I have a technology background. I'm happy to have those detailed conversations of exactly who's given access, how that access is given, and how we are making sure that information is protected. We absolutely have to make sure that there are no violations there are the right protocols put in place. We have no data to say that. We just have, you'd say, just, trust me, it's okay. That's not good enough.