Internal Revenue Service (IRS) headquarters building in Washington D.C. (Credit: David Ake/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump has directed a sweeping overhaul of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), with interim IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent and senior advisor Gary Shapley spearheading a restructuring effort that includes new investigative priorities and leadership changes.
The move comes as the agency operates with reduced staff due to the ongoing government shutdown and follows the removal of former Commissioner Billy Long in August after a policy dispute over taxpayer data.
According to officials familiar with the matter, Shapley has been tasked with identifying individuals and entities who may face criminal scrutiny over potential political and financial misconduct.
Among those reportedly reviewed is billionaire Democratic donor George Soros, whose Open Society Foundation remains one of the world’s largest funders of progressive causes.
Soros’ Fund for Policy Reform, largely run by his son Alex, donated $60 million to Democrats in 2024, ranking as the 12th largest contributor nationally and second among exclusively liberal givers.
The overhaul has coincided with a broader push from the administration and Republican leaders to examine political funding sources tied to recent anti-Trump demonstrations.
Senator Ted Cruz introduced legislation this week to enable the Department of Justice to use the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act to investigate financial backers of the “No Kings” protests held over the weekend. (Read more: Lifezette, 10/16/2025) (Archive)