IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel announced his resignation just days before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration this Monday and return to the Oval Office. Werfel, who still had three years remaining in his term, will step down on January 20, coinciding with Trump’s swearing-in.
The announcement follows Trump’s nomination of former Missouri Congressman Billy Long as the new IRS Commissioner, signaling a shift in the agency’s leadership as part of Trump’s broader commitment to reform federal institutions.
In a memo obtained by the Wall Street Journal, Werfel stated, “After significant introspection and consultation with others, I’ve determined the best way to support a successful transition is to depart the IRS on January 20, 2025. 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.”
Werfel also acknowledged his initial intent to serve his full term but emphasized the importance of facilitating a smooth transition under the new administration. “As civil servants, we have a job to do, and that job is to now ensure a new Commissioner is set up for success,” he wrote.
Trump’s decision to nominate Long aligns with his pledge to “drain the swamp” and bring accountability to federal agencies. This leadership overhaul at the IRS is part of the incoming administration’s focus on curbing what Trump has referred to as “corruption and inefficiency” within government institutions.