TRUMP USING IRS AS POLITICAL WEAPON

Going after opponents, protecting allies

There is every indication the Trump Administration plans to use the Internal Revenue Service as a political weapon to go after its opponents.
If that seems exaggerated, that guard rails somehow will protect the confidentiality of American taxpayers from politically-targeted audits, consider:
-- Trump wanted to use the tax agency to go after perceived enemies in his first term but White House chief of staff John Kelly said he blocked it. This week he threatened the tax status of Harvard after the University refused to buckle to his demands on how to run the institution.
In his self-styled "retribution" Trump 2.0 is brushing aside legal limits that inhibited him in the first term. It is illegal for the President to order a tax audit or interfere with the IRS. But the Supreme Court's decision last year granting Trump immunity for any "official" acts as President, probably renders that prohibition moot.
-- The Treasury Secretary and Homeland Security head cut a deal to get the tax returns from undocumented immigrants or migrants accused of a crime. The acting IRS commissioner resigned over this intrusion into tax confidentiality.
-- The White House has nominated a political hack, former Missouri Congressman Billy Long as IRS commissioner. Before Congress, Long was an auctioneer; after Congress, with no credentials he tried to peddle a tax avoidance scheme that the IRS deemed the "worst of the worst" scams. This is in stark contrast to most administrations of both parties that have tapped an experienced businessman or tax expert as commissioner.
-- What guardrails? The Treasury 's Inspector General for Tax Administration is only acting; don't look for a tough cop to be named. The IRS commissioner reports to the Treasury Secretary who could fire him; then he'd lose his job too. There's congressional committees which could exercise oversight. But that's something these congressional Republicans run from like the plague.
--Trump has ignored court orders, even gaming a Supreme Court decision. He has shaken down top law firms whose offense was they have or had lawyers that have opposed Trump. He has ordered bogus investigations into two officials in his first term, one for declaring the 2020 election was legitimate which it was. Legalities are nuisance for this President.
The Attorney General is authorized to order a tax audit. Attorney General Pam Bondi has made clear her priority at Justice is to serve Trump's wishes.
There is a history of White House interference with the IRS. Years ago Democratic Administration sought audits on right wing groups.
During the Obama Administration, congressional Republicans charged the IRS was targeting Tea Party and other conservative organizations. It turned out to be mainly hype, some bureaucratic blunders, as left wing groups were targeted too. There is no evidence that President Obama was involved.

The biggest public scandal was during Watergate when it was revealed President Nixon had ordered audits of opponents or his "enemies" The illicitly ordered tax audits were included in one of the articles of impeachment against the President in 1974.
In the wake of that scandal, tougher rules were instituted about isolating the IRS from political interference. They have held pretty well for half a century. That's about to change.
There are no John Kelly's around Trump today, only "yes sir" types. In Trump's desire for revenge, the IRS affords expanded opportunities. A tax audit can be embarrassing, time consuming and expensive. As the likelihood of more political audits surface, it can be intimidating.
There are few recourses. The IRS general counsel, William Paul, has been sacked and replaced by a Trump-Musk acolyte. There may well emerge whistle blowers but they will be taking huge risks with little protection from the Trump Justice Department.
Moreover, following Congressional Republicans, Trump is slashing the IRS budget coupled with buyouts from employees who want to get out of a tainted place, and firings, the tax agency will lose over a quarter of its workforce and half the enforcement staff. This will have two affects: making it harder and slower for working and middle class taxpayers to get information or assistance and sharply reducing the number of audits on the wealthy.
The bottom line: fewer of Trump's billionaire pals will face scrutiny while his political opponents will.
There are many frightening policies that have been promulgated in less than 100 days . Few will be more dangerous than the politicalization of the Internal Revenue Service.