President Donald Trump has withdrawn the nomination of Donald Korb for the position of Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Assistant General Counsel at the Department of the Treasury. The announcement was made on November 14, 2025, via a post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, stating: “Please be advised that I am withdrawing the nomination of Donald Korb… Thank you for your attention to this matter!” No further details were provided regarding the decision.
Korb, who previously served as IRS Chief Counsel from 2004 to 2008, was nominated in April 2025 to return to the role. His nomination was officially relayed to the Senate on April 29, 2025, and his confirmation hearing was scheduled for September 10, 2025. During the hearing, Korb faced extensive questioning about past remarks, including comments suggesting that a career IRS official “should have been shot” for resigning and criticizing senior officials who left as seeking “woke friends.” ([forbes.com](https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2025/09/05/confirmation-hearing-set-for-trumps-irs-chief-counsel-nominee-donald-korb/?utm_source=openai))
The withdrawal of Korb’s nomination adds to a series of leadership changes within the IRS under the current administration. Earlier this year, Acting Chief Counsel William Paul was demoted and replaced by Andrew De Mello, an attorney in the Chief Counsel’s office who is deemed supportive of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Reports indicated that Paul was removed due to clashes with DOGE over sharing tax information with multiple agencies. ([pbs.org](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/irs-removes-its-chief-counsel-after-clashing-with-doge-over-sharing-tax-info-ap-reports?utm_source=openai))
Additionally, the IRS has experienced significant turnover in its top leadership positions. Billy Long, who was confirmed as IRS Commissioner on June 12, 2025, was removed from office by President Trump on August 8, 2025, less than two months after his confirmation. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was appointed as Acting Commissioner following Long’s departure. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Long?utm_source=openai))
These developments occur amid broader efforts by the administration to restructure the IRS and reduce the federal workforce. The IRS is drafting plans to cut its workforce by as much as half through a mix of layoffs, attrition, and incentivized buyouts as part of President Trump’s initiatives to shrink the size of the federal government. ([pbs.org](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/irs-removes-its-chief-counsel-after-clashing-with-doge-over-sharing-tax-info-ap-reports?utm_source=openai))
With Korb’s nomination withdrawn, the Treasury Department and the IRS will need to identify a new candidate to fill the Chief Counsel position, a role critical for providing legal guidance on tax law enforcement and administration.