Acting IRS Commissioner Gary Shapley is OUT at the agency after an internal struggle with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Gary Shapley, the whistleblower who came forward and exposed the political interference in the Hunter Biden tax fraud investigation, was named interim IRS Commissioner after Melanie Krause resigned.
BIG NEWS: Gary Shapley, the IRS whistleblower who exposed the DOJ’s cover-up of the criminal investigation of Hunter Biden, is now Acting IRS Commissioner.
Congratulations, Gary—your courage and professionalism will transform the IRS. pic.twitter.com/DhotnPsCUU
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) April 16, 2025
Krause stepped down amid controversy over a data-sharing agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Shapley is reportedly being replaced after an internal struggle with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Bessent reportedly approached Trump and told him Shapley was put in his position at the IRS without his knowledge.
According to reports, Shapley was placed at the IRS on Elon Musk’s request without Bessent’s knowledge.
On Thursday night Laura Loomer tweeted about Scott Bessent’s previous attack on Elon Musk.
Elon Musk responded to Laura Loomer’s X post: “The strong Soros affiliation is concerning.
The strong Soros affiliation is concerning
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 18, 2025
The New York Times reported:
President Trump has replaced the acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service after his appointment just days earlier set off a power struggle between Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and billionaire Elon Musk, five people with knowledge of the change said Friday.
Mr. Bessent’s deputy, Michael Faulkender, will be the new acting leader, replacing Gary Shapley, the Treasury Department confirmed on Friday. Mr. Faulkender will be the third acting leader of the agency this week.
Mr. Bessent had complained to Mr. Trump this week that Mr. Musk had done an end run around him to get Mr. Shapley installed as the interim head of the I.R.S., even though the tax collection agency reports to Mr. Bessent.
The clash was the latest instance of Mr. Musk’s influence in the Trump administration alarming top officials. The feud between Mr. Musk and Mr. Bessent went public late Thursday night, when Mr. Musk elevated an attack from the far-right researcher Laura Loomer questioning Mr. Bessent’s pro-Trump bona fides.
