In Tax Day Surprise, Whistleblower Gary Shapley Named Acting Commissioner of the IRS

An Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent who was the subject of retaliation by the agency for coming forward to Congress in 2023 about former First Son Hunter Biden’s tax violations has on Tuesday — the deadline for Americans to file their tax returns — been named an acting commissioner, or temporary head, of the federal agency that tried in recent years to force his resignation.

Gary Shapley’s promotion drew immediate praise from his attorney, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who has long fought to strengthen whistleblower protections.

“It’s GR8 NEWS will b taking over as Acting IRS Commissioner,” Sen. Grassley posted on X Wednesday morning.

Shapley is one of two IRS agents who came forward and testified before the House Ways and Means Committee two years ago about how their employer was slow-rolling information about Hunter Biden’s tax crimes, likely under pressure from his father’s administration. He and Joseph Ziegler then faced the difficult choice between demotion or firing by the IRS.

Biden was ultimately charged with tax crimes by Special Counsel David Weiss and convicted only to be pardoned by President Joe Biden in the eleventh hour of his administration — despite promising earlier he would not pardon his son.

The Trump administration has nominated former Rep. Billy Long (R-Missouri) to be the permanent IRS commissioner, but Shapley will act in the role until the Senate confirms Long.

Shapley will now fill the role being vacated by Commissioner Melanie Krause who resigned in protest of the IRS now having to share data with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and immigration enforcement agencies.

As most Americans breath a collective sigh of relief on Wednesday following the passing of the annual federal tax filing deadline, the IRS is facing new pressures to reform and reduce its workforce as part of the Trump administration’s mission of shrinking the administrative state.