Two IRS whistleblowers who exposed political interference in Hunter Biden’s tax investigation and faced severe retaliation have received significant promotions at the Treasury Department, marking a dramatic turnaround in their careers and a victory for government accountability.
Top Takeaways
- IRS agents Gary Shapley and Joe Ziegler have been appointed as senior advisers to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent after previously facing retaliation for their whistleblowing.
- The agents were removed from the Hunter Biden investigation in 2022 after reporting obstruction by DOJ officials, with the Office of Special Counsel confirming illegal retaliation against them.
- They will focus on implementing reforms to enhance IRS efficiency and governmental transparency before transitioning to senior IRS leadership roles.
- Their promotion represents a significant shift in how whistleblowers are treated, with Senator Chuck Grassley describing it as “ushering in a new era of transparency and accountability.”
From Retaliation to Recognition
Gary Shapley and Joe Ziegler, the IRS agents who brought to light political interference in the Hunter Biden tax investigation, have been elevated to leadership positions within the Treasury Department. This promotion comes after both men faced significant professional consequences for their decision to speak out about the handling of the high-profile case. Their new roles as senior advisers to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mark a significant shift in how these whistleblowers have been treated by the federal government.
The agents were removed from the Hunter Biden investigation in December 2022 after they reported what they described as obstruction by Department of Justice officials and the Delaware US Attorney’s office. Following their disclosures, both men faced what the US Office of Special Counsel later confirmed was illegal retaliation, including being issued improper gag orders and being removed from their investigative duties. Their revelations contributed to the collapse of what critics described as a “sweetheart deal” for Hunter Biden on tax fraud and gun felony charges.
🚨 JUST IN: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has promoted the Hunter Biden IRS whistleblowers to leadership roles at the Treasury Department.
They will be investigating IRS wrongdoing now. AMAZING decision.
"The the culture of being able to come forward when you see wrongdoing… pic.twitter.com/te2IlzgzUt
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 18, 2025
A New Chapter at Treasury
In their new positions, Shapley and Ziegler will focus on implementing reforms to enhance the IRS’s efficiency and promote governmental transparency. Treasury Secretary Bessent specifically praised their expertise in driving cultural reform within the tax agency. The career civil servants will initially serve as senior advisers to Bessent before transitioning to senior leadership roles within the IRS itself. This strategic positioning allows them to help shape policy and practice at both the departmental and agency levels.
Empower Oversight, the organization representing the whistleblowers, praised the promotions as rightful recognition of their integrity and hard work. Jason Foster, the group’s founder, emphasized that this approach of “rewarding merit rather than retaliating against whistleblowers is exactly how government ought to work.” The organization continues to support Shapley and Ziegler as they navigate ongoing legal challenges, including a pending complaint against six IRS executives for retaliation and a defamation lawsuit against Hunter Biden’s lawyer.
Whistleblower Protections and Accountability
Senator Chuck Grassley, a longtime advocate for whistleblower protections, hailed the promotions as a significant step toward greater transparency in government. He contrasted the current administration’s approach with the previous one, where he claimed the whistleblowers were treated “like skunks at a picnic” despite their courage in speaking the truth. The Senator expressed hope that this would be the first of many “redemption stories” for whistleblowers who have faced retaliation for their disclosures.
The whistleblowers’ journey illuminates the essential nature of protections for those who expose wrongdoing within government agencies. Despite President Joe Biden’s December 2024 pardon of his son for offenses committed since January 1, 2014, the whistleblowers’ actions have had lasting impacts on how the government approaches accountability and transparency. Their elevation to leadership positions underscores the critical importance of maintaining integrity in public institutions, particularly those with significant power over citizens’ lives and finances.
Sources:
- IRS whistleblowers who investigated Hunter Biden — and were ostracized — are promoted at Treasury Department
- Hunter Biden whistleblowers get promoted by Trump after Biden-era retaliation
