Senate Republican Whip John Thune is launching an investigation into the Internal Revenue Service’s use of a program that allows employees to work from personal devices. Thune introduced the Ensuring No Devices Bear Your Own Data (END BYOD) Act to prevent IRS staff from accessing taxpayer information on their personal devices. This move comes after a government report revealed that the IRS had not fully complied with the ban on TikTok for federal devices. Thune expressed concern over the mishandling of taxpayer information by the IRS and emphasized the importance of protecting personal data.
In response to the report, Thune and Sen. Marsha Blackburn sought answers from IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel regarding the agency’s noncompliance with the ban on TikTok. The senators raised concerns about the potential compromise of confidential taxpayer information as a result of TikTok’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party. An IRS spokesperson stated that the agency has blocked access to TikTok on all government-issued devices but acknowledged that a small number of employees participating in the BYOD program have access to the app. Thune’s proposed legislation aims to prevent IRS employees in the BYOD program from handling sensitive taxpayer data on personal devices with TikTok access.
Thune’s bill, co-sponsored by Blackburn and other Senate Republicans, has received support from organizations like Americans for Tax Reform and the National Taxpayers Union Foundation. Thune, who is running to replace Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2025, is taking a leading role in addressing cybersecurity concerns at the IRS. Bipartisan scrutiny of TikTok has increased among lawmakers due to its ownership by Chinese company Bytedance, raising concerns about data sharing under Chinese law. Legislation requiring TikTok to divest from Bytedance as part of a foreign aid package has received bipartisan support in Congress.
The passage of the legislation requiring TikTok to divest from China was part of a $95 billion foreign aid supplemental package aimed at providing resources for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. President Biden signed the package into law, giving TikTok a limited timeframe to divest from Chinese ownership. If Bytedance fails to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese owner, the app could face a ban in the United States. Thune’s efforts to investigate the IRS’s use of personal devices and prevent the mishandling of taxpayer data highlight the growing bipartisan concern over cybersecurity and data privacy issues related to Chinese-owned applications like TikTok.
In conclusion, Senate Republicans led by John Thune are taking action to address concerns about the IRS’s handling of taxpayer information and the use of personal devices by employees. The introduction of the END BYOD Act aims to safeguard sensitive data and prevent potential security breaches. Bipartisan support for legislation targeting TikTok’s ownership by a Chinese company reflects growing concerns about data privacy and national security risks. Thune’s leadership on this issue underscores the need for greater oversight and accountability in federal agencies to protect against cybersecurity threats and foreign influence.
