Palantir, a software company co-founded by Peter Thiel, is involved in an initiative led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to develop a new “mega API” for accessing Internal Revenue Service (IRS) records, according to IRS sources reported by WIRED.
For the past three days, DOGE, along with several Palantir representatives and numerous IRS engineers, has been working collaboratively to create a unified API layer over all IRS databases. This effort has been described to WIRED as a “hackathon,” according to sources. Palantir representatives have been present at the event, as confirmed by a source with direct knowledge.
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) enable different applications to exchange data, and in this context, could facilitate the transfer of IRS data to the cloud for easier access. DOGE has indicated interest in the API project potentially encompassing all IRS data, such as taxpayer names, addresses, social security numbers, tax returns, and employment data. The new API layer could also allow comparison of IRS data with interoperable datasets from other agencies.
If the project is completed, DOGE aims for Palantir’s Foundry software to become the central hub of all IRS systems, as mentioned by a knowledgeable source. This would mean that anyone with access to Foundry could view and potentially alter all IRS data within a single platform. It remains unclear who would be granted access to this system.
Foundry is a Palantir platform that organizes data, builds applications, or runs AI models on underlying data. It includes an “ontology” layer that can generate APIs for quicker connections and machine learning models, allowing for rapid data sorting and querying using artificial intelligence, which would necessitate access to sensitive IRS information.
Engineers are optimistic that they can complete the API project within 30 days, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Palantir has secured billions in government contracts and produces software tools for both enterprise businesses and governments, including Foundry and Gotham, a data-analytics tool primarily used in defense and intelligence sectors. Palantir CEO Alex Karp noted the influence of DOGE’s cost-cutting initiatives, stating that what benefits America will, in turn, benefit Americans and Palantir. In recent months, former Palantir employees have assumed key government IT and DOGE roles.
WIRED was the first to report on the IRS’s DOGE team organizing a “hackathon” in Washington, DC, to launch the API project. The event began on Tuesday morning and concluded on Thursday afternoon. According to a source present, the event was “very unstructured,” with engineers discussing approaches to achieve DOGE’s objectives.
The Treasury Department did not respond to requests for comments on Palantir’s involvement in the project.
A Treasury spokesperson informed WIRED that they are pleased to have assembled a team of long-standing IRS engineers identified as the most talented technical personnel to enhance IRS systems for optimal taxpayer service. This week, the team engaged in the IRS Roadmapping Kickoff, a seminar comprising various strategy sessions designed to create efficient systems and serve as the tech-enabled force multiplier needed by the IRS.
