The acting head of the IRS is reportedly being ousted after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent complained to President Donald Trump that Elon Musk pushed to place him in the role without Bessent’s assent.
Gary Shapley, who gained prominence for testifying as part of the Republicans’ corruption investigation into Hunter Biden, is being replaced as acting IRS commissioner just days after being appointed to the role, according to multiple reports.
Musk was a key ally to Trump on the campaign trail and has spearheaded the Department of Government Efficiency, which has aimed to slash the size of the federal government since Trump entered office.
DOGE reportedly pushed the White House for Shapley to be appointed, although Bessent, who oversees the IRS, was not consulted about the matter. Trump gave Bessent his blessing in the decision to oust Shapley.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Treasury Department for comment but did not receive a response.
Shapley is well known among Republicans because of his testimony. He claims he faced internal retaliation from management in 2023 after he accused the IRS and the Justice Department of slow-walking an investigation into Hunter Biden’s taxes to protect then-President Joe Biden.
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Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender will now lead the agency on an acting basis, the Wall Street Journal reported. Faulkender will become the fifth person to serve in that capacity this year.
As the new Trump administration was taking form, Musk pushed for Howard Lutnick to be nominated for treasury secretary instead of Bessent. Trump ended up putting Lutnick, who still has disdain for Bessent, in charge of the Commerce Department instead.
