President Trump announced Thursday that Treasury tax official David Kautter would serve as acting IRS commissioner next month as the term of current IRS chief John Koskinen expires.
Kautter, confirmed in August to be assistant secretary for tax policy at the Treasury, will serve in both positions, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said.
“I look forward to having David Kautter as acting commissioner of the IRS. David will provide important leadership while we wait to confirm a permanent commissioner,” Mnuchin said. “Assistant Secretary Kautter has had an illustrious 40-year career in tax policy, and I am confident that the IRS and the American people will benefit from his experience and insight.”
Republicans had long criticized Koskinen for his management of the fallout from the IRS targeting of conservative groups for added scrutiny when they applied for nonprofit status.
Conservatives cheered his nearing exit Thursday.
Jason Pye, the vice president of legislative affairs at the conservative group Freedomworks, accused Koskinen of covering up illegal activity at the IRS. “We’re glad to see him go. He did not earn his salary or his big pension,” Pye said.
Under former President Barack Obama, some conservative lawmakers had sought to impeach Koskinen. After Trump took office, Republicans called on him to fire him.
