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The Trump administration is reportedly planning to overhaul the Internal Revenue Service’s criminal‑investigation unit in an effort to target left-leaning organizations and donors.
According to the Wall Street Journal, a senior IRS official has reportedly drawn up a list of individuals and entities to scrutinize, with high-profile names, including George Soros, on the list.
As part of the move, allies of Trump are expected to be placed in key roles within the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS‑CI) to reduce the influence of IRS lawyers in shaping or constraining investigations. Gary Shapley, an adviser to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, will reportedly spearhead the plan and intends to replace longtime IRS‑CI head Guy Ficco.
The scheme echoes recent comments by Bessent on "The Charlie Kirk Show," where he likened dissenting political groups to terrorist networks:
“Many of these organizations have been financed by nonprofits, and it’s gonna stop. … We are going to … follow the money," he said.
Critics warn the redeployment could politicize law enforcement inside the IRS. Some IRS attorneys have pushed back, arguing that scaling back their role risks undermining legal safeguards in investigations.
The White House and IRS have not publicly responded to reports of Wednesday (October 15).
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