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Government · IRS · Leadership · Tax Policy
The Internal Revenue Service appointed Frank Bisignano, head of the Social Security Administration, as its first Chief Executive Officer, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent retaining the Commissioner role, establishing a dual-leadership structure to accelerate agency priorities without Senate confirmation.
This strategic move addresses the IRS's significant operational challenges, including rapid leadership turnover, severe workforce shortages, and ongoing technology modernization efforts. The agency has seen seven individuals serve as commissioner or acting commissioner this year, and nearly two-thirds of top executive positions are vacant or acting.
Bisignano, previously leading Fiserv and holding senior roles at JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup, is tasked with implementing the Trump administration's new tax laws, which introduce expanded deductions and are expected to generate a surge of tax refunds in early 2026. The IRS lost 17% of its accounts-management staff this year, raising concerns about its capacity to process correspondence and assist taxpayers, as noted by former national taxpayer advocate Nina Olson in the Wall Street Journal.
While the Treasury Department reports progress on technology upgrades with new contracts (Salesforce, Iron Mountain, Palantir) and rehiring efforts, future funding remains uncertain due to ongoing congressional debates and a government shutdown.
IRS Appoints Bisignano CEO; Agency Faces Hurdles(current)
