A significant leadership transition is underway at the IRS as the head of its criminal investigation division retires amid a broader reorganization tied to the Trump administration’s priorities.
Bloomberg reports that Guy Ficco, a career IRS employee who has led the Criminal Investigation unit since April 2024, stepped down this week after overseeing more than 3,000 employees within the agency’s enforcement arm.
His departure comes as IRS CEO and Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank Bisignano continues to reshape the agency’s leadership structure following a year marked by heavy workforce reductions and frequent turnover at the top.
The IRS lost roughly a quarter of its staff last year, including many senior officials, with seven people serving in either acting or permanent commissioner roles over that period. Ficco will be replaced by Jarod Koopman, who will also serve as co-chief tax compliance officer.
Several other high-profile appointments reflect the administration’s shifting approach. Gary Shapley, a longtime IRS criminal investigator who testified before Congress regarding the Hunter Biden tax investigation and briefly served as acting IRS commissioner, has been named deputy chief of criminal investigation. Joseph Ziegler, another veteran agent involved in that case, is now chief of internal consulting.
Todd Newman, who joined Treasury through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative, has been appointed chief financial officer, with oversight extending to procurement, facilities, and privacy.
Announcing the changes, Bisignano said, “To support this agenda, I am announcing updates to the IRS executive leadership team and an organizational structure where more functions will report directly to me, allowing for strengthened accountability, improved performance, and modernized service delivery.”
The reorganization also eliminates the chief operating offer role and redistributes responsibilities across appeals, human capital, and risk functions, while leaving several senior posts unchanged.