In a major restructuring step, the U.S. Treasury Department revealed on October 6, 2025, the appointment of Frank Bisignano as the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) first-ever Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The position is created to improve the agency’s operational effectiveness and service delivery. Bisignano, who also holds the position of Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the IRS while retaining his current post at the SSA.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is also the acting IRS Commissioner, said that Bisignano’s long track record of work in both the public and private sectors qualifies him perfectly for this dual role. Bessent has emphasized that the SSA and IRS share common customer service and technology objectives, adding that Bisignano’s tenure at the SSA has already brought about improvements in areas such as wait times and incorporating artificial intelligence into customer service activities.
Bisignano comes on board after a spell of instability at the IRS, where there have been a number of leadership switches during the Trump administration. The then-IRS Commissioner, Billy Long, was ousted from office in August 2025 and nominated to be the U.S. Ambassador to Iceland. Bessent became acting commissioner then.
Critics have panned the implications of Bisignano serving as the leader of both the IRS and SSA simultaneously. Various experts and interest groups have questioned the legality and effectiveness of appointing a leader of two prominent federal agencies at the same time, particularly without Senate confirmation for the IRS role. Moreover, there are concerns over possible conflicts of interest, especially in data-sharing between the SSA and IRS.
While these are areas of concern, Bisignano’s deep experience in financial services is an asset to bring to his new post. Prior to his time at the SSA, Bisignano was CEO of Fiserv, a payments technology company with a global reach, and was in executive roles at JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup. His private sector experience in growth and efficiency is likely to provide a strategic bent to the IRS’s operations.
With the IRS gearing up for the next tax filing season and enforcing new tax reforms, Bisignano’s leadership will be important in overcoming the challenges ahead. His holding of two positions at the IRS and SSA is also emblematic of a larger trend within the Trump administration of the officials juggling more than one position, which creates concerns about a delicate balance between efficiency and oversight in federal agencies.
Overall, Frank Bisignano’s elevation to the post of IRS CEO is a dramatic change in the leadership dynamics of the agency. Although his long experience in financial services and public administration make him well-equipped to tackle the IRS’s performance issues, the dual appointment has serious implications for governance and accountability at federal agencies. The next few months will be decisive in determining the effect of this change on the IRS’s efficiency and credibility with the public.
