The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced a leadership change at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Melanie Krause, currently the IRS Chief Operating Officer, will assume the role of Acting IRS Commissioner following Doug O’Donnell’s retirement.
Doug O’Donnell, who has been serving as Acting Commissioner since January, will retire on Friday. Krause will take over as Deputy Commissioner and serve as Acting Commissioner during this transition period.
Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent expressed gratitude for O’Donnell’s service: “On behalf of the Treasury Department, I want to thank Doug O’Donnell for his decades of public service and dedication to the nation’s taxpayers,” he said. “He has been a remarkable public servant, and I wish him the best in retirement. At the same time, Melanie Krause and the agency’s leadership team are well positioned to serve during this critical period for the nation in advance of the April tax deadline.”
O’Donnell reflected on his career at the IRS: “The IRS has been my professional home for 38 years,” he stated. “I care deeply about the institution and its people and am confident that Melanie will be an outstanding steward of the Service until a new Commissioner is confirmed.”
Krause’s career at the IRS began in October 2021 as Chief Data & Analytics Officer. She was responsible for leading research activities using AI and advanced analytics. She also served as Acting Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement from November 2022 to March 2023.
Before joining the IRS, Krause worked within federal oversight bodies such as the Government Accountability Office and Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. In addition to her government roles, she holds an active registered nurse license and possesses bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
O’Donnell’s tenure at the IRS spanned more than 38 years across various roles including multiple terms as Acting Commissioner.
