IRS Shake-Up: A Cause for Concern?

The IRS is reportedly making big changes. These changes could lead to more investigations into left-leaning groups and Democratic donors. This news comes from people who know about it. The IRS's criminal investigation team is getting new leaders. These leaders are allies of the current administration. At the same time, the role of IRS lawyers in these investigations is being weakened. Gary Shapley, an advisor to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, is leading this effort. He has a list of potential targets. This list includes billionaire George Soros and his groups, like the Open Society Foundations. Shapley also wants to replace the current head of the investigative unit. Guy Ficco has been with the IRS for a long time. Shapley wants someone more friendly to the administration in this role.The administration also plans to target groups that fund organizations promoting anarchy in Democratic-run cities. President Trump recently talked about this at a cabinet meeting. Some people think this report is nonsense. They say it relies on unnamed sources. But the IRS has a history of targeting political enemies. In 2013, the Obama administration targeted conservative non-profits. Lois Lerner, an IRS official, used keywords like "tea party" to choose targets. She was not charged with any crime. But this is not how things should work in the United States. Investigations should focus on crimes, not on people we don't like. If the report is accurate, this is a problem. It could lead to a cycle of political targeting. Ronald Reagan once said, "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help. " Today, we can add: "I'm from the IRS, and I'm here to serve you. "