**Title:** New Acting IRS Commissioner Appointed Amid Controversy
**Meta Description:** Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appoints Michael Faulkender as acting IRS commissioner following leadership turmoil and calls for restored trust.
**URL Slug:** acting-irs-commissioner-appointment
**Headline:** Michael Faulkender Named Acting IRS Commissioner Amid Leadership Shakeup
In a significant move, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has appointed Michael Faulkender as the acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This decision follows reports that the current IRS leader, Gary Shapley, was appointed at the behest of Elon Musk without Bessent’s prior knowledge. Bessent emphasized the need to restore trust in the IRS, stating that Faulkender is “the right man for the moment.”
Shapley, who gained notoriety in conservative circles for alleging that the Justice Department delayed an investigation into tax issues involving Hunter Biden, will continue to serve as one of Bessent’s senior advisors. Additionally, Joseph Ziegler, another IRS employee who was removed from the Hunter Biden case, is set to receive a long-term senior government position, according to Bessent.
This leadership change comes shortly after the New York Times reported that Bessent had expressed concerns to President Donald Trump about Musk’s influence in Shapley’s appointment. The IRS has now seen its fifth acting commissioner since Trump took office less than 100 days ago, and its third in under a week. The previous commissioner, Melanie Krause, resigned after the Treasury Department agreed to share taxpayer data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raising privacy concerns.
The IRS has become a focal point in Trump’s efforts to revoke the tax-exempt status of universities and non-profit organizations he perceives as political adversaries. In a recent statement, Trump remarked, “I don’t know what’s going on, but when you see how badly they’ve acted… we’ll be looking at it very strongly regarding tax-exempt status.”
Danny Werfel, the IRS commissioner appointed by former President Joe Biden, resigned shortly after Trump’s inauguration, leading to a series of rapid leadership changes. Faulkender, who previously led the Paycheck Protection Program during Trump’s first term, will serve as acting commissioner until Billy Long, a former House representative, is confirmed by the Senate.
In conclusion, the appointment of Michael Faulkender as acting IRS commissioner marks a pivotal moment for the agency amid ongoing controversies and leadership instability. As the IRS navigates these challenges, the focus remains on restoring public trust and addressing the complexities of tax policy in a politically charged environment.
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: Who is the new acting commissioner of the IRS?**
A: Michael Faulkender has been appointed as the acting commissioner of the IRS by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
