Treasury Secretary Advocates AI Modernization for the IRS

In a recent interview on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined a transformative vision for the Internal Revenue Service. The Secretary discussed the potential of introducing advanced artificial intelligence to overhaul IRS operations, promising improvements in taxpayer services and overall efficiency.

A Glimpse into the Future

Bessent revealed that the decision on modernizing the IRS would be influenced significantly by the assessment of Elon Musk’s DOGE. After the completion of this evaluation, the Treasury Secretary anticipates determining whether artificial intelligence can be unleashed to refine and streamline the processes within the IRS.

The Underlying Issues

Addressing the legacy challenges, Bessent emphasized that the IRS currently struggles with outdated technology, featuring 12 separate I.T. systems running on COBOL—technology he personally programmed using in the 1980s. He elaborated that the modernization plans would aim to enhance three critical areas:

• Collections
• Privacy
• Customer Service

These core goals, according to Bessent, are not performing at their peak, signaling a pressing need for change.

The Metaphor of Ownership

During the discussion, Bessent used a vivid metaphor to explain the necessity of reform. When questioned about potential staff reductions or agency mergers, he remarked that any restructuring would serve the interests of the American taxpayer—likening the IRS resources to “cheese” that rightfully belongs to them, not to entrenched bureaucracies.

Recent Developments

Shortly after Bessent’s remarks, Department of Government Emergency personnel were seen entering the IRS headquarters in Washington, D.C. Although details of this visit remain sparse, it signifies the urgency and determination of the administration to initiate significant changes.

The Secretary’s commitment to adopting state-of-the-art technology marks a bold step in rethinking how government agencies operate, potentially setting a precedent for other areas of public administration.