The Biden administration allegedly attempted a last-minute maneuver to derail Pete Hegseth’s nomination as Secretary of Defense by initiating an IRS audit shortly after his nomination.
On Monday, Hegseth shared a screenshot on X (formerly Twitter) of a letter from the IRS, which he and his wife, Jennifer, received following his November nomination. The letter stated that their federal income tax return was being audited and claimed they owed $33,558.16. The agency demanded immediate action to avoid penalties.
Of course the outgoing Biden IRS rushed an “audit” of the incoming SecDef. Total sham.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) February 17, 2025
The party of “norms” and “decency” strikes again. We will never back down. pic.twitter.com/coW1UpFPrD
Hegseth strongly condemned the move, calling it a political stunt designed to undermine his confirmation.
“Of course, the outgoing Biden IRS rushed an ‘audit’ of the incoming SecDef. Total sham,” Hegseth wrote in his post. “The party of ‘norms’ and ‘decency’ strikes again. We will never back down.”
Despite the alleged effort to derail his nomination, Hegseth was confirmed as Secretary of Defense after Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate.
Hegseth’s audit has raised concerns that other nominees under Trump’s administration could have also been subjected to sudden IRS scrutiny. Critics argue that the IRS, often accused of political bias, may have targeted Trump-aligned figures as part of a broader effort to obstruct his incoming administration.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about potential IRS abuses. In past years, conservative groups and individuals have accused the agency of unfairly targeting them, citing politically motivated audits and investigations.
With Hegseth now officially confirmed, efforts are reportedly underway to investigate the IRS’s operations. Elon Musk, working alongside DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), has begun initiatives to rein in what many consider one of the most unpopular agencies in the federal government.
Last week, Gavin Kliger, a key staffer working with Musk, reportedly entered IRS headquarters to begin an internal review of its activities. There are also reports that DOGE will soon gain access to the IRS’s highly sensitive taxpayer data system.
This is a developing story.