IRS Chief Counsel Replaced Amid Workforce Reductions

William Paul, the acting chief counsel of the IRS, has been removed and replaced by Andrew De Mello, who is reportedly supportive of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Paul's demotion is attributed to his resistance to DOGE's controversial push to share taxpayer information with multiple federal agencies, which has raised concerns among IRS staff. This personnel change occurs amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to significantly reduce the federal workforce, including plans for massive cuts at the IRS through layoffs, attrition, and buyouts. The move has sparked alarm among career staff, who view the access to sensitive taxpayer data as a violation of privacy and legal norms. Several government officials have faced similar demotions or resignations for opposing DOGE’s data access initiatives. The legal and operational shifts at the IRS reflect broader tensions between career civil servants and political appointees under the current administration.