Today's News: Trump Replacing Acting IRS Commissioner Just Days After His Appointment

Musk reportedly pushed Shapley's appointment without Bessent's consent. In response, Bessent persuaded Trump to install his deputy, Michael Faulkender, instead.

Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post

Overview

• Date: April 18, 2025

• Topic: IRS Leadership Turmoil and Power Struggle Between Treasury Secretary and Elon Musk

• Summary: President Donald Trump abruptly removed Gary Shapley as acting commissioner of the IRS just three days after appointing him, following a dispute between Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Elon Musk. Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), reportedly pushed Shapley's appointment without Bessent's consent. In response, Bessent persuaded Trump to install his deputy, Michael Faulkender, instead. The reversal highlights escalating tensions over Musk’s influence in federal agencies, as well as continuing volatility at the IRS, which has seen five leaders so far this year amid sweeping staff cuts and restructuring. Shapley will remain in a senior advisory role at Treasury or the IRS, while Trump’s permanent nominee, Billy Long, awaits Senate confirmation.

Sources

• The New York Times – Head of I.R.S. Is Ousted in Treasury’s Power Struggle With Elon Musk

• CNN – Trump’s pick for acting commissioner is out at IRS days after his appointment

• NBC News – Trump is replacing the acting IRS commissioner, part of a dispute between Treasury and Elon Musk

• The Washington Post – Acting IRS leader replaced after 3 days as senior DOGE official loses access

• The Wall Street Journal – Trump to Replace Acting IRS Commissioner

Fox News did not have any headline reporting on this story.

Key Points

• Gary Shapley was ousted after just three days as acting IRS commissioner, following objections from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over his Musk-driven appointment.

• Michael Faulkender, the deputy Treasury secretary, has been named acting commissioner, becoming the fifth IRS head this year.

• Elon Musk’s role through DOGE in influencing IRS leadership and advocating for deep budget and staff cuts has caused significant internal friction.

• The Trump administration’s broader efforts include sharing IRS data with immigration enforcement and seeking revocation of tax-exempt status from institutions like Harvard.

• Shapley, previously celebrated by conservatives for whistleblower testimony on the Hunter Biden investigation, will remain in a senior advisory position.

• IRS restructuring under Trump has included tens of thousands of staff reductions and contract terminations.

Unique Highlights

• The New York Times reported in detail how Musk bypassed Bessent using White House channels to install Shapley, and noted Musk’s online criticism of Bessent via a Laura Loomer post.

• CNN provided excerpts from Faulkender’s Senate confirmation responses, outlining his views on audit fairness, taxpayer privacy, and Musk’s access to IRS systems.

• NBC News quoted Bessent calling for the restoration of trust at the IRS and cited previous internal data-sharing disputes that contributed to resignations.

• The Washington Post revealed that DOGE official Gavin Kliger lost access to IRS facilities on the same day as Shapley’s ouster, and described IRS attorney concerns over the legality of recent data-sharing initiatives.

• The Wall Street Journal detailed the broader personnel turnover at the IRS and described Musk’s repeated end-runs around cabinet officials, including an earlier email blast to all federal employees.

Contrasting Details

• CNN and NBC News frame Faulkender as a stabilizing figure with stated commitments to neutrality, while The Washington Post and The New York Times emphasize the political nature of his appointment and the Musk-Bessent struggle.

• The Wall Street Journal highlights Shapley’s lack of senior management experience as a rationale for the change, while The New York Times and The Washington Post focus more on Musk’s influence as the reason for his removal.

• Only The Washington Post and The New York Times mention the broader controversy over Musk's role in DOGE and his ambition to reduce government size and control, whereas CNN and NBC News stay more focused on the personnel changes and procedural events.

• The Wall Street Journal and NBC News report on deeper operational impacts at the IRS, such as loss of senior management and legal concerns around Trump’s directives, while CNN focuses more on the political implications and Senate confirmation dynamics.

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