Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is no longer serving as acting commissioner of the IRS, but he will continue to handle the role’s responsibilities until the position is filled. This change follows federal rules for temporary appointments that require Senate confirmation. 

According to Bloomberg Law, the IRS explained that the change was made to comply with the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, which limits how long someone can serve as an acting official. Bessent reached the 210-day limit last week. Even though he no longer has the title, he will still take care of the commissioner’s duties. IRS CEO Frank Bisignano will continue to manage the agency’s daily operations. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have asked senior officials to take on the “functions and duties” of vacant roles to get around legal limits on acting appointments. Some lawmakers have criticized this practice, saying it allows administrations to avoid the Senate confirmation process.  

House Ways and Means Committee ranking member Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., criticized the arrangement in a statement, saying, “The American people don’t care that Secretary Bessent’s moonlighting at IRS has come to an end, what they care about is the Trump Administration’s blatant disregard for full and fair tax administration.” 

The IRS commissioner position has changed hands several times recently, with Bessent being the seventh person to hold the role since early 2025. So far, no new nominee has been announced.