President Donald Trump’s decisive action to put employees implicated in one of the worst weaponization scandals in American history on leave is a victory for fairness and accountability. The recent administrative leave of Holly Paz, a key figure in the 2013 Tea Party targeting controversy, underscores the persistent politicization within the IRS. Paz’s involvement in a new sub-department auditing pass-through businesses, with strong anti-conservative bias, is a chilling reminder of the agency’s history of weaponizing its authority against conservatives. Trump’s swift response sends a clear message: the IRS must serve the American people, not the marxist agenda.
The 2013 scandal, where Paz’s former boss Lois Lerner oversaw improper scrutiny of groups with “Tea Party” or “Constitution” in their names, exposed a deep-seated bias within the IRS. Senator Marsha Blackburn has been one of the leaders calling out this outrageous bias, and pointing out how the IRS’s actions threaten small businesses, the backbone of our economy. Trump’s decision to act protects hardworking Americans from bureaucratic overreach.
But putting these employees on leave must be only the first step. Anyone who is dishonest and shameless enough to weaponize the IRS on something this substantial, likely targeted conservatives in other areas too. Any revenue rulings (particularly 2024-14), audits, or decisions tainted by bias must be put on hold and overturned if there is any semblance of bias. Taxpayers deserve an IRS that enforces laws impartially, not one that serves the left’s agenda by targeting conservatives.
Trump’s leadership in rooting out this corruption is commendable, but the fight isn’t over. A thorough audit of the IRS’s recent actions will restore trust and ensure justice for those unfairly targeted. America demands nothing less.