IRS chief to step down upon Trump’s inauguration, well before his term expires============================================================================== IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel testifies before the House Appropriations Committee on May 7, 2024. Werfel announced his resignation on Friday. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images | Get the latest federal technology news delivered to your inbox.||
|| email | Register for Newsletter*** ** * ** ***Stay Connected [](https://x.com/NextgovFCW)[](https://www.facebook.com/NextgovFCW/)[](https://www.linkedin.com/company/nextgovfcw/)[](/rss/all/) Featured eBooks  [Health Tech](/assets/health-tech-q424/portal/) [Read Now](/assets/health-tech-q424/portal/)  ### [Next-Generation Computing](/assets/next-generation-computing/portal/)[Read Now](/assets/next-generation-computing/portal/)  ### [Space Tech](/assets/space-tech-q324/portal/)[Read Now](/assets/space-tech-q324/portal/) Insights -& Reports  [Unlocking public sector potential](/assets/unlocking-public-sector-potential/portal/?oref=ng-sidebar-insights-reports) [Presented By NTT DATA](/assets/unlocking-public-sector-potential/portal/?oref=ng-sidebar-insights-reports) [Download Now](/assets/unlocking-public-sector-potential/portal/?oref=ng-sidebar-insights-reports)  [Advancing the Mission: Better Collaborative Government Experiences](/assets/advancing-mission-collaborative-government-/portal/?oref=ng-sidebar-insights-reports) [Presented By Logitech](/assets/advancing-mission-collaborative-government-/portal/?oref=ng-sidebar-insights-reports) [Download Now](/assets/advancing-mission-collaborative-government-/portal/?oref=ng-sidebar-insights-reports) By [Eric Katz](/voices/eric-katz/6739/?oref=ng-post-author), Senior Correspondent * [](https://x.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nextgov.com%2Fpeople%2F2025%2F01%2Firs-chief-step-down-upon-trumps-inauguration-well-his-term-expires%2F402306%2F&text=IRS+chief+to+step+down+upon+Trump%27s+inauguration%2C+well+before+his+term+expires&via=Nextgov)* [](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nextgov.com%2Fpeople%2F2025%2F01%2Firs-chief-step-down-upon-trumps-inauguration-well-his-term-expires%2F402306%2F&mini=true&summary=The+announcement+follows+Trump%27s+decision+to+replace+Biden%27s+top+tax+collection+official.&source=Nextgov.com&title=IRS+chief+to+step+down+upon+Trump%27s+inauguration%2C+well+before+his+term+expires)* [](https://www.facebook.com/dialog/feed?picture=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.nextgov.com%2Fmedia%2Fimg%2Fcd%2F2025%2F01%2F17%2F01162025Werfel-1%2F860x394.jpg&name=IRS+chief+to+step+down+upon+Trump%27s+inauguration%2C+well+before+his+term+expires&app_id=622609557824468&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nextgov.com&link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nextgov.com%2Fpeople%2F2025%2F01%2Firs-chief-step-down-upon-trumps-inauguration-well-his-term-expires%2F402306%2F&display=popup&description=The+announcement+follows+Trump%27s+decision+to+replace+Biden%27s+top+tax+collection+official.)* [](mailto:?body=The%20announcement%20follows%20Trump%27s%20decision%20to%20replace%20Biden%27s%20top%20tax%20collection%20official.%0A%0Ahttps%3A//www.nextgov.com/people/2025/01/irs-chief-step-down-upon-trumps-inauguration-well-his-term-expires/402306/&subject=Nextgov.com%3A%20IRS%20chief%20to%20step%20down%20upon%20Trump%27s%20inauguration%2C%20well%20before%20his%20term%20expires) By [Eric Katz](/voices/eric-katz/6739/?oref=ng-post-author?oref=rf-post-author)-| January 17, 2025 03:00 PM ETThe announcement follows Trump’s decision to replace Biden’s top tax collection official.—————————————————————————————–* [IRS](/topic/irs/?oref=ng-article-topics)* [Leadership](/topic/leadership/?oref=ng-article-topics)* [](https://x.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nextgov.com%2Fpeople%2F2025%2F01%2Firs-chief-step-down-upon-trumps-inauguration-well-his-term-expires%2F402306%2F&text=IRS+chief+to+step+down+upon+Trump%27s+inauguration%2C+well+before+his+term+expires&via=Nextgov)* [](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nextgov.com%2Fpeople%2F2025%2F01%2Firs-chief-step-down-upon-trumps-inauguration-well-his-term-expires%2F402306%2F&mini=true&summary=The+announcement+follows+Trump%27s+decision+to+replace+Biden%27s+top+tax+collection+official.&source=Nextgov.com&title=IRS+chief+to+step+down+upon+Trump%27s+inauguration%2C+well+before+his+term+expires)* [](https://www.facebook.com/dialog/feed?picture=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.nextgov.com%2Fmedia%2Fimg%2Fcd%2F2025%2F01%2F17%2F01162025Werfel-1%2F860x394.jpg&name=IRS+chief+to+step+down+upon+Trump%27s+inauguration%2C+well+before+his+term+expires&app_id=622609557824468&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nextgov.com&link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nextgov.com%2Fpeople%2F2025%2F01%2Firs-chief-step-down-upon-trumps-inauguration-well-his-term-expires%2F402306%2F&display=popup&description=The+announcement+follows+Trump%27s+decision+to+replace+Biden%27s+top+tax+collection+official.)* [](mailto:?body=The%20announcement%20follows%20Trump%27s%20decision%20to%20replace%20Biden%27s%20top%20tax%20collection%20official.%0A%0Ahttps%3A//www.nextgov.com/people/2025/01/irs-chief-step-down-upon-trumps-inauguration-well-his-term-expires/402306/&subject=Nextgov.com%3A%20IRS%20chief%20to%20step%20down%20upon%20Trump%27s%20inauguration%2C%20well%20before%20his%20term%20expires)The head of the Internal Revenue Service will step down after President-elect Trump’s inauguration on Monday, he told employees on Friday, despite his term not expiring until 2027.IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told staff his early departure would be the best thing for the agency given that Trump has already announced his intention to install a replacement. Werfel could have stayed in the role and forced Trump to fire him, but said his discussions with IRS employees, members of Congress, Trump transition team staff and other stakeholders led him to take a different approach.’While I had always intended to complete my full term as commissioner, the president-elect has announced his plan to nominate a new IRS commissioner,’ Werfel said. ‘I have been touched by those who have reached out to me to share how they were hopeful that I could remain in seat and continue the important work underway. But as civil servants, we have a job to do, and that job is to now ensure a new commissioner is set up for success.’Trump has [named former Rep. Billy Long, R-Mo.](https://www.govexec.com/management/2024/12/trump-signals-new-direction-irs-he-announces-atypical-plan-replace-its-leadership/401458/), to lead IRS. IRS commissioners are nominated to five year terms so that they do not directly correspond to presidential turnover, though federal statute dictates the agency head ‘may be removed at the will of the president.’President Biden nominated Werfel in 2022 after Trump’s choice to lead IRS, former Commissioner Charles Rettig, saw his term expire. Biden opted not to replace Rettig, following precedent that has remained in effect for the last 30 years. Werfel, just prior to Trump naming a replacement, said he hoped to stay in his role through the end of his term.Werfel is in the midst of transforming IRS—using roughly $60 billion from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act—including by boosting customer service, modernizing technology and dramatically ramping up staffing to increase enforcement on wealthy individuals and corporations. Congressional Republicans have largely balked at his efforts and attempted to revoke the IRA funding on multiple occasions. With the party now taking control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, Republican leaders have indicated they will push those efforts through.’After significant introspection and consultation with others, I’ve determined the best way to support a successful transition is to depart the IRS on Jan. 20, 2025,’ Werfel said. ‘While leaving a job you love is never easy, I take comfort in knowing that the civil servant leaders and employees at the IRS are the exact right team to effectively steward this organization forward until a new IRS commissioner is confirmed. I know this because of what I have seen you achieve over the past two years—remarkable work that will serve as a strong foundation for the future.’IRS Deputy Commissioner Douglas O’Donnell will step in as acting commissioner until the Senate takes up Long’s nomination. He will serve as IRS is in the midst of tax filing season, for which Werfel said the agency is [well prepared](https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/01/irs-chief-predicts-agency-performance-will-backslide-if-funds-and-staffing-are-cut/402105/).The outgoing commissioner has long cautioned that all of his efforts to boost customer relations, modernize the agency’s outdated technology and add staff for increased enforcement and taxpayer services would be unwound if lawmakers do not continue the elevated funding levels IRS has enjoyed in recent years. Werfel helped the IRS workforce reach 100,000 employees after years of funding shortages had led the agency to drop to its lowest staffing levels in decades. Share This:* [](https://x.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nextgov.com%2Fpeople%2F2025%2F01%2Firs-chief-step-down-upon-trumps-inauguration-well-his-term-expires%2F402306%2F&text=IRS+chief+to+step+down+upon+Trump%27s+inauguration%2C+well+before+his+term+expires&via=Nextgov)* [](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nextgov.com%2Fpeople%2F2025%2F01%2Firs-chief-step-down-upon-trumps-inauguration-well-his-term-expires%2F402306%2F&mini=true&summary=The+announcement+follows+Trump%27s+decision+to+replace+Biden%27s+top+tax+collection+official.&source=Nextgov.com&title=IRS+chief+to+step+down+upon+Trump%27s+inauguration%2C+well+before+his+term+expires)* [](https://www.facebook.com/dialog/feed?picture=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.nextgov.com%2Fmedia%2Fimg%2Fcd%2F2025%2F01%2F17%2F01162025Werfel-1%2F860x394.jpg&name=IRS+chief+to+step+down+upon+Trump%27s+inauguration%2C+well+before+his+term+expires&app_id=622609557824468&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nextgov.com&link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nextgov.com%2Fpeople%2F2025%2F01%2Firs-chief-step-down-upon-trumps-inauguration-well-his-term-expires%2F402306%2F&display=popup&description=The+announcement+follows+Trump%27s+decision+to+replace+Biden%27s+top+tax+collection+official.)* [](mailto:?body=The%20announcement%20follows%20Trump%27s%20decision%20to%20replace%20Biden%27s%20top%20tax%20collection%20official.%0A%0Ahttps%3A//www.nextgov.com/people/2025/01/irs-chief-step-down-upon-trumps-inauguration-well-his-term-expires/402306/&subject=Nextgov.com%3A%20IRS%20chief%20to%20step%20down%20upon%20Trump%27s%20inauguration%2C%20well%20before%20his%20term%20expires)**NEXT STORY:** [Trump’s DHS pick says CISA is ‘far off-mission’ and should be smaller](/people/2025/01/trumps-dhs-pick-says-cisa-way-mission-and-should-be-smaller/402308/?oref=ng-next-story) | [Human operators must be held accountable for AI’s use in conflicts, Air Force secretary says](/artificial-intelligence/2023/12/human-operators-must-be-held-accountable-ais-use-conflicts-air-force-secretary-says/392457/?oref=ng-earthbox-post) | [Why NIST is prioritizing creating a dictionary of AI development](/artificial-intelligence/2023/12/why-nist-prioritizing-creating-dictionary-ai-development/392427/?oref=ng-earthbox-post) | [SSA restructures tech shop to center on the CIO](/modernization/2023/11/ssa-restructures-tech-shop-center-cio/392377/?oref=ng-earthbox-post) | [How a push to the cloud helped a Ukrainian bank keep faith with customers amid war](/modernization/2023/11/how-push-cloud-helped-ukrainian-bank-keep-faith-customers-amid-war/392375/?oref=ng-earthbox-post) | [The people problem behind the government’s AI ambitions](/artificial-intelligence/2023/11/people-problem-behind-governments-ai-ambitions/392212/?oref=ng-earthbox-post) | [sponsor content| Enabling AI at the Edge for the Public Sector](https://www.govexec.com/assets/enabling-ai-edge-public-sector/portal/) | [Human operators must be held accountable for AI’s use in conflicts, Air Force secretary says](/artificial-intelligence/2023/12/human-operators-must-be-held-accountable-ais-use-conflicts-air-force-secretary-says/392457/?oref=ng-earthbox-post) | [Why NIST is prioritizing creating a dictionary of AI development](/artificial-intelligence/2023/12/why-nist-prioritizing-creating-dictionary-ai-development/392427/?oref=ng-earthbox-post) | [SSA restructures tech shop to center on the CIO](/modernization/2023/11/ssa-restructures-tech-shop-center-cio/392377/?oref=ng-earthbox-post) | [How a push to the cloud helped a Ukrainian bank keep faith with customers amid war](/modernization/2023/11/how-push-cloud-helped-ukrainian-bank-keep-faith-customers-amid-war/392375/?oref=ng-earthbox-post) | [The people problem behind the government’s AI ambitions](/artificial-intelligence/2023/11/people-problem-behind-governments-ai-ambitions/392212/?oref=ng-earthbox-post) | [sponsor content| | Enabling AI at the Edge for the Public Sector](https://www.govexec.com/assets/enabling-ai-edge-public-sector/portal/)
Related Tags:
NAICS: 923 – Administration Of Human Resource Programs
NAICS: 92 – Public Administration
NAICS: 924 – Administration Of Environmental Quality Programs
Blog: NextGov
Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service
Create or Modify System Process
Ingress Tool Transfer
File and Directory Discovery
Remote Services: SMB/Windows Admin Shares
Associated Indicators: