IRS chief counsel replaced over taxpayer info sharing issues

The IRS has replaced its acting chief counsel, William Paul, with Andrew De Mello, who supports the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Paul was demoted due to disagreements over sharing taxpayer information with other federal agencies. The IRS is also planning significant workforce cuts, potentially reducing its staff by half. A federal judge recently ruled that layoffs of probationary IRS employees were unlawful, casting doubt on the agency's plans. Concerns about access to sensitive taxpayer data have led to a wave of retirements and demotions among government officials. This includes Michelle King, the former acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, who stepped down after refusing to grant DOGE access to sensitive information.