Overview
- The Wall Street Journal reports that adviser Gary Shapley is steering an overhaul of IRS-CI, including plans to replace longtime chief Guy Ficco.
- Proposed changes would curtail the role of career chief-counsel lawyers by revising the Internal Revenue Manual, lowering internal legal safeguards in criminal probes.
- Sources say a preliminary target list includes billionaire George Soros and groups linked to his Open Society Foundations, along with other major Democratic donors.
- Bessent, who is also acting IRS commissioner, said the department is “following the money” and likened the push to post‑9/11 terror‑finance tracking during media appearances this week.
- Democrats and legal experts warn the reported plan risks illegal weaponization of the IRS; there have been no announced charges or formal rule changes, and Treasury offered limited on‑the‑record comment.