IRS Commissioner Melanie Krause to Leave Agency

Thousands of IRS employees have been laid off, affecting President Biden’s expansion hires aimed at tax enforcement on wealthy taxpayers. Acting IRS Commissioner Melanie Krause is expected to resign, making her the third person to lead the IRS since January. Her departure follows the agency’s agreement to share tax information with federal immigration agents to find undocumented immigrants in the U.S. This move played a role in Krause’s decision to quit. The controversial agreement with Homeland Security is part of a series of changes within the IRS, including mass terminations across the federal government led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. More than 20,000 IRS employees are expected to be laid off as part of this effort. This restructuring is meant to modernize the agency and improve efficiency in identifying waste, fraud, and abuse. The shake-up has raised concerns about data privacy and security, particularly with DOGE seeking access to IRS computer systems containing sensitive information. Krause, who joined the IRS in 2021, has been leading the agency through significant changes, including IT modernization and organizational restructuring. Her departure marks a challenging time for the IRS, as it navigates these internal changes and external pressures.