President Donald Trump has replaced the acting IRS commissioner just days after naming him to the role.
Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender has now been appointed as the new acting commissioner, according to a statement released Friday by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
“Trust must be restored at the IRS, and I am fully confident that Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender is the right person for this moment,” Bessent said.
Faulkender takes over from Gary Shapley, a veteran IRS agent whom Trump had appointed acting commissioner earlier in the week.
Shapley is best known as the whistleblower who alleged that the Justice Department, under President Joe Biden, gave preferential treatment to Biden’s son, Hunter, during a long-running investigation into his taxes.
Despite the change, Bessent said Shapley will continue to play a significant role.
“Gary Shapley’s dedication and thoughtful approach to lasting IRS reforms are crucial to our mission,” Bessent said. “He remains one of my key senior advisors at the Treasury as we work to rethink and improve the IRS.”
Bessent also noted that once Shapley and fellow IRS agent Joseph Ziegler complete their current year-long investigation, both will be appointed to senior positions at either the IRS or the Treasury Department to help turn their findings into real policy changes.
