Donald Trump is replacing the acting commissioner of the US Internal Revenue Service. This decision follows a complaint from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Bessent reportedly told the president that the agency head had been appointed without his knowledge and under the instruction of Doge leader Elon Musk.
According to reports, Bessent believed that the Doge head had circumvented him to get Gary Shapley installed as the interim head of the IRS. The "department of government efficiency" reportedly pushed for Bessent's appointment using channels within the White House. Bessent was not consulted about the installation and received Trump's approval to reverse the decision.
Michael Faulkender, the current deputy secretary of the US treasury, is expected to become the next acting head of the tax-collecting agency. Missouri congressman Billy Long is Trump's nominee to hold the permanent position. He would ultimately take over if approved by the Senate.
Shapley was chosen by Trump on Tuesday following the resignation of the previous interim head, Melanie Krause. Krause departed from her role at the IRS after the agency agreed to a deal. The deal was to share tax information of undocumented immigrants living in the US with federal agents.
Amid the internal power struggles, the IRS has been reportedly planning to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status. This follows pressure from the Trump administration. It is against the law for the president to direct the IRS to conduct an investigation or audit.