Senate Democrats Accuse Trump Administration of Paralyzing the IRS

In a formal letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Senators Ron Wyden, Chuck Schumer, and Elizabeth Warren warned that the administration is operating in violation of federal law. Bessent has served as acting commissioner since the removal of Billy Long last August, but the senators contend his legal authority to hold the position expired on March 6. The group also challenged the legitimacy of the IRS chief executive officer role held by Frank Bisignano, labeling it an unauthorized position that further obscures accountability within the agency.

The leadership crisis coincides with a broader erosion of enforcement capabilities. Since returning to the White House, the Trump administration has terminated tens of thousands of agency employees and faced extreme leadership churn, with seven transitions occurring in 2025 alone. According to data from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, this internal instability has resulted in a sharp decline in criminal referrals for tax evasion among the ultra-wealthy. Meanwhile, major corporations including Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Tesla reported $315 billion in profits for 2025 while paying a collective effective tax rate of just 4.9%.