Ken Kies to Exit Treasury and IRS Roles, Deepening Tax Leadership Vacuum at 2 Agencies
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 14
Ken Kies to Exit Treasury and IRS Roles, Deepening Tax Leadership Vacuum at 2 Agencies
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 14
Summary
Ken Kies, Treasury’s assistant secretary for tax policy and the IRS’s acting chief counsel, is set to leave government, according to three people familiar with the change.
His departure removes an official who oversaw tax-rule writing and implementation of the 2025 Republican tax law, including extensions of 2017 cuts and Trump-backed breaks on tips and overtime.
The exit adds to turmoil at the tax agencies after a federal judge on Monday condemned special audit protections the Justice Department granted Trump in his IRS lawsuit; Kies had recused himself because he previously represented Trump.
The leadership gap is already broad: the IRS has lacked a confirmed commissioner since last year, and Trump last month nominated tax lawyer James Gadwood to become the agency’s top lawyer.