Frank Bisignano Appointed CEO of IRS Amid Leadership Changes
The Biden administration announced the appointment of Frank Bisignano as the first CEO of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on March 4, 2024. This newly created position places Bisignano, who currently serves as the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), in charge of overseeing all daily operations at the IRS. He will report directly to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the acting IRS commissioner.
In a statement, the Treasury Department emphasized that Bisignano’s dual roles are intended to align the technological and customer service objectives of both agencies. Scott Bessent remarked, “The IRS and SSA share many of the same technological and customer service goals. This makes Mr. Bisignano a natural choice for this role.”
The decision to appoint Bisignano comes amid ongoing leadership changes at the IRS, a trend that has characterized the agency since the start of the Biden administration. Bessent himself assumed the role of acting commissioner in August 2023, following the ousting of former U.S. Representative Billy Long. Long’s brief tenure was marred by controversy, including his removal less than two months after being confirmed and his subsequent nomination as ambassador to Iceland.
The appointment of Bisignano raises concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest, particularly related to the sensitive nature of taxpayer data. Mike Kaercher, deputy director of the Tax Law Center at New York University School of Law, highlighted the complications of having one individual oversee both agencies. “Putting the same person in charge of both the IRS and SSA creates a conflict of interest when SSA wants access to legally protected taxpayer data,” he stated.
The dual responsibilities of Bisignano have drawn mixed reactions from stakeholders in both the IRS and SSA. Kathleen Romig, director of Social Security and Disability Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, voiced her concerns over the implications of this appointment. “If the Biden administration asked for the Senate’s advice and consent, would they really want the same person running the government’s biggest program and overseeing the implementation of the extraordinarily complex new tax law?” she questioned on the Bluesky social media app.
Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, an advocacy group focused on SSA recipients and future retirees, warned that Bisignano’s divided attention could lead to operational bottlenecks. “Never in Social Security’s 90-year history has a commissioner held a second job. His new role will leave a leadership vacuum at the top of the agency,” Altman stated, emphasizing that the Republican-controlled Senate has yet to confirm a deputy commissioner.
Before his current appointment, Bisignano served as CEO of Fiserv, a prominent payments and financial services technology firm, starting in 2020. He has a background in advocating for corporate policies aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination.
As the IRS prepares for the challenges ahead, it remains to be seen how Bisignano will balance his responsibilities across both agencies and address the concerns raised by advocates and experts.
