IRS Under Trump: Targeting Left-Leaning Groups and Leadership Turnover
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the Trump administration is planning to make significant changes at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by appointing individuals considered to be "allies" to target left-leaning groups. These changes are said to facilitate criminal investigations of left-leaning organizations more effectively, with a focus on major Democratic donors and groups affiliated with George Soros. President Trump has previously called for Soros and his son to face federal charges under the RICO act for their alleged involvement in supporting violent protests and causing damage to the country.
Since Trump took office, there have been several changes in leadership at the IRS, with six different commissioners serving in the role. The turnover in leadership has been rapid, with individuals like Doug O’Donnell, Melanie Krause, Gary Shapley, Michael Faulkender, Billy Long, and Scott Bessent all taking on the role of acting commissioner for varying lengths of time. The current acting commissioner, Scott Bessent, assumed the position in August.
In conclusion, the reported plans to install "allies" at the IRS to target left-leaning groups have raised concerns about the politicization of the agency and its potential impact on investigations and enforcement actions. The turnover in leadership at the IRS under the Trump administration has been notable, with multiple acting commissioners serving in a short period of time. The implications of these changes and the targeting of specific groups and individuals remain to be seen.