Trump is replacing the acting IRS commissioner

President Donald Trump is replacing the acting IRS commissioner, Gary Shapley, who he had appointed just 3 days ago. This continues the upheaval at the top of the tax agency.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had complained to President Trump that the acting commissioner had been installed without his knowledge. IRS commissioners have traditionally been allowed to complete five-year terms, regardless of White House administration changes.

The IRS has been undergoing major modernization and tax compliance efforts targeting wealthy non-filers and complex corporations. Those initiatives come alongside a new IRS free tax filing program, Direct File.

Just 9 days ago, the previous IRS commissioner, Melanie Krause, resigned, just two months into her job. Many in the Trump administration might argue that these resignations and firings are necessary, to get people who are working against America’s interests, out of the way.

And it would behoove the Trump administration to have someone leading the IRS who was on the same page as them. But it is true that a lot of turmoil is being created at present.

President Trump promised to shake things up when he came back to the White House. He certainly has so far, in many different policies. It remains to be seen if the shakeup will be for the better or for the worse.