Letter: Maintaining privacy in the Trump administration

February 20, 2025

Congressman Bentz,

As a citizen, I find myself beyond shocked by the news that the Trump administration has on its agenda the opening of IRS and SSA files which will allow the unrestricted seizure and distribution of private information regarding, among other protected items, my family’s tax returns, Social Security numbers, addresses, banking history, and information dealing with past and current employment, and beyond. I am familiar with associative data analysis enough to know that with modest computer effort, these items can be associated so as to enable political surveillance that violates one of the most sacred rights of Americans. 

I was raised on the fundamental faith in a Republican Party that championed the rights of the individual. Clearly, the seizure of vital personal data, listed above, by a group of privately organized unidentified persons referring to themselves as “DOGE” violates the fundamental right of personal privacy. 

Congressman Bentz, what do you intend to do to put a stop to this unlawful and hostile behavior on the part of this group?

David Hoffman

Ashland

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Cameron Aalto

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