Treasury secretary Bessent to Continue Leading IRS Under Trump Governance
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will remain commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a decision made by President Donald Trump, according to sources familiar with the matter. This arrangement continues a situation unprecedented in recent history, as no previous Treasury Secretary has simultaneously led the IRS. Bessent initially took the helm of the IRS in August following the removal of Billy long, who had been confirmed to the position just two months prior and has since been nominated as the U.S. ambassador to Iceland.
To support Bessent’s continued leadership,the IRS will create a new position: Chief Executive Officer. Frank Bisignano, currently serving as commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), will fill this role.Bisignano will be responsible for overseeing the IRS’s day-to-day operations while continuing his duties at the SSA.
bisignano brings extensive experience in the financial sector to the IRS. He previously served as president and CEO of Fiserv, a leading financial services and payment technology company, and spearheaded the 2019 merger between Fiserv and First Data. Prior to Fiserv, he held leadership positions at JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup.
Both Bessent and Bisignano are expected to maintain these dual roles within the administration for the foreseeable future.
Beyond his responsibilities at the Treasury and IRS, Bessent is also leading the search for a successor to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, whose term expires in May 2026. The search process has involved interviews with eleven candidates, with a shortlist of three to five finalists expected to be presented to President Trump in the coming weeks.
