Topline
President Donald Trump will replace Internal Revenue Service Acting Commissioner Gary Shapley, who was backed by Elon Musk, after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent complained to Trump that Shapley was picked without his permission, according to The New York Times.
Gary Shapley, IRS supervisory special agent, testifies during the House Oversight and Accountability … More
Key Facts
Shapley was installed to the position on Tuesday and was expected to fill the role until Trump’s permanent pick for the agency, former congressman Billy Long, took over, pending his approval in the Senate, The Times reported, citing five unnamed sources.
Trump is expected to replace Shapley with deputy treasury secretary Michael Faulkender, according to The Times.
Trump’s reversal on Shapley comes after Bessent reportedly complained to Trump that Musk fast-tracked Shapley without Bessent’s permission—the latest disagreement between Musk and Bessent.
Musk on Thursday reposted an attack against Bessent by right-wing conspiracist Laura Loomer on X, and Musk publicly advocated for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to be chosen as treasury secretary over Bessent.
Tangent
Musk has also publicly feuded with Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro, calling him a “moron” as Navarro promoted Trump’s sweeping tariff policy. Musk never outwardly criticized the tariff policy but suggested he was instead a proponent of free trade.
Key Background
Shapley is a former IRS supervisor who famously publicly alleged the agency was pressured to go easy on Hunter Biden in its investigation of tax-related criminal charges against the former president’s son. The previous acting IRS commissioner, Melanie Krause, resigned after the Treasury Department agreed to share IRS data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to aid its efforts to deport undocumented migrants, according to The Times.
Further Reading
Musk Slams Trump Trade Adviser Peter Navarro Over Tariffs: ‘Truly A Moron’ (Forbes)
New Musk White House Feud? Peter Navarro Claims ‘No Rift’ After Billionaire Attacks Him Over Tariffs (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/04/18/bessent-ousts-musk-backed-irs-commissioner-gary-shapley-report-says/