Trump Administration Demotes IRS Chief Counsel William Paul, Replaces with DOGE Ally Andrew De Mello Amid 20% Staff Cuts

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Updated Mar 13, 2025, 08:19 PM

The Trump administration has demoted the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) acting chief counsel, William Paul, amid efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, to gain access to sensitive taxpayer records. Paul has been replaced by Andrew De Mello, an attorney within the IRS's chief counsel's office who is supportive of DOGE's initiatives. This move comes as part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to downsize the federal workforce, including significant staff cuts at the IRS. The administration plans to cut up to 20 percent of the IRS's staff, having already laid off 7,000 probationary employees. These actions have raised concerns about the legality of sharing confidential taxpayer information across government agencies, particularly for checking eligibility for federal benefits and for immigration enforcement purposes. The demotion of Paul follows his resistance to DOGE's demands for access to IRS data. The reshuffle at the IRS is seen as part of a larger trend where government officials have been demoted or resigned after opposing DOGE's access to sensitive systems and data. A federal judge recently ruled against the mass layoffs of probationary workers, ordering their reinstatement. DOGE, housed within the executive branch and led by acting administrator Amy Gleason, previously of the U.S. Digital Service, continues to push for efficiency across federal agencies.

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#Trump #Internal Revenue Service #IRS #William Paul #Department of Government Efficiency #DOGE #Elon Musk #Paul #Andrew De Mello #Amy Gleason

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Sources

wsj.com(5)washingtonpost.com(2)cbsnews.com thegatewaypundit.com

CBS News

@CBSNews

IRS chief counsel is demoted and replaced with DOGE ally https://t.co/oyjjACaoP0

Bo Snerdley

@BoSnerdley

Top IRS lawyer pushed aside as DOGE seeks records and 20 percent staff cuts https://t.co/M7h4SbgHnH

The Wall Street Journal

@WSJ

The Trump administration is demoting the IRS’s top lawyer. The move could make it easier for the tax agency to share its trove of confidential taxpayer data with others in the government. https://t.co/mu9knqBOUD