• Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank Bisignano is appointed to a newly created IRS CEO role, creating a rare dual-leadership scenario.
• He will oversee day-to-day IRS operations while continuing as SSA commissioner, and reports to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent; Senate confirmation remains uncertain.
• The move follows a wave of IRS leadership changes, including Billy Long’s short tenure as commissioner and Bessent’s acting role.
• Advocates and experts warn about potential conflicts of interest and divided attention, with quotes highlighting governance concerns.

Bisignano’s appointment to the IRS CEO position is described as part of ongoing leadership shuffles at the agencies involved, with multiple outlets noting he simultaneously holds roles at SSA and now the IRS. As IRS CEO, he will report to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who currently serves as acting commissioner of the IRS, and it remains unclear whether the Senate will require confirmation for the newly created post. The Treasury Department said Bisignano will oversee all day-to-day IRS operations while continuing to serve as SSA commissioner, and Bessent praised the alignment of goals between the two agencies, saying they “share many of the same technological and customer service goals. This makes Mr. Bisignano a natural choice for this role.” The sources also identify Bisignano as a former Wall Street executive and chair of Fiserv since 2020. This background is repeatedly cited as part of the rationale for placing him in this dual role.

According to the coverage, the appointment comes after a period of leadership turnover at the IRS, with former commissioner Billy Long stepping down after a brief tenure and without a background in accounting or tax law, a contrast to prior leaders. The CBS and NPR narratives echo that Long’s exit preceded Bisignano’s selection, framing the move within a broader reshuffle affecting the agency’s top ranks. The LATimes account likewise situates Bisignano’s rise amid a series of acting commissioners and shifting duties within the IRS leadership chain.

Some voices raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the practicality of Bisignano juggling two pivotal federal roles. NPR quotes an NYU Law expert warning that combining the IRS and SSA leadership could raise conflicts over access to legally protected taxpayer data, while advocates are cautious about divided attention and governance gaps in SSA. The CBS and LATimes pieces also note the broader critique and mention the ongoing political dynamics surrounding the appointment. The sources collectively underscore governance and oversight questions tied to this unprecedented dual appointment, with receipts from Kathleen Romig and Nancy Altman cited in NPR for their specific concerns about congressional consent and the potential effects on SSA’s leadership.