In a surprising development, Frank Bisignano, who has been serving as the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), has recently been appointed as the inaugural CEO of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This announcement, made on a Monday by the Associated Press, marks another instance of members from the Trump administration taking charge of multiple federal agencies, raising eyebrows and questions about government efficiency.
In his role as IRS CEO, Bisignano will be directly accountable to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is currently acting as the IRS commissioner. The specifics about whether this newly established position will require confirmation by the Senate remain uncertain, leaving many to speculate on the potential implications of this appointment.
According to a statement from the Treasury Department, Bisignano will have significant responsibilities, overseeing the daily operational activities of the IRS, while at the same time continuing his duties as the Commissioner of the SSA. This dual role could potentially streamline efforts in areas where both agencies intersect, as Bessent highlighted that the IRS and the SSA have numerous objectives related to technology and customer service. One might wonder—does this consolidation of leadership positions truly serve the best interest of taxpayers and Social Security beneficiaries alike?
This elevation of Bisignano comes amidst ongoing leadership turmoil within the IRS, which has seen frequent changes since Trump took office. Bessent himself assumed the acting commissioner role following the abrupt dismissal of former U.S. Representative Billy Long, who held the position for a mere two months before being reassigned as ambassador to Iceland. In fact, before Long, the agency had a succession of four acting commissioners, one of whom resigned due to concerns related to the sharing of tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an issue that stirred significant controversy.
With Frank Bisignano taking on these two demanding roles, he joins the ranks of other Trump administration officials known for juggling multiple responsibilities, such as Marco Rubio, Sean Duffy, Jamieson Greer, and Russell Vought. However, this trend has prompted concerns among advocates for both the IRS and Social Security.
Kathleen Romig, who directs Social Security and Disability Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, has raised alarms regarding the lack of Congressional oversight of Bisignano's appointment. She questioned whether the administration would have pursued Senate confirmation if they genuinely believed it would be beneficial to put someone in charge of two major government programs while also managing a complicated tax law implementation.
Meanwhile, Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works, which advocates for the rights of SSA beneficiaries and future retirees, stressed the worry that Bisignano's divided attention could create significant challenges. She suggested that this arrangement might lead to a bottleneck, complicating resolutions to issues as they arise. Historically, the SSA has not experienced a commissioner balancing additional high-level responsibilities, which further amplifies concerns about leadership continuity, especially since the Republican-controlled Senate has yet to confirm a deputy commissioner.
Bisignano previously held the position of chair at Fiserv, a notable company in financial services and payments technology, where he has been since 2020. Notably, he has also advocated for corporate policies designed to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination. As this situation unfolds, one must ponder whether having an administrator with multiple roles could truly benefit or hinder the critical functions of these essential federal services.
