WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday appointed Daniel Werfel, controller of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as acting commissioner of Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
According to a White House press release, the appointment will take effect next Wednesday, and Werfel has agreed to serve through the current fiscal year, which will end in September.
Werfel will lead an effort to "ensure the IRS implements new safeguards to restore public trust and administers the tax code with fairness and integrity," after the agency was found targeting conservative groups for extra screening.
Obama praised Werfel as "an effective leader who serves with professionalism, integrity and skill," and as the administration " work to get to the bottom of what happened and restore confidence in the IRS, Danny has the experience and management ability necessary to lead the agency at this important time."
Werfel, 42, currently serves as controller of the OMB, where he has led efforts across the federal government to improve Federal program integrity, including all areas of financial management, financial reporting, accounting standards, improper payments, and financial systems, among others.
Obama sacked former IRS chief Steven Miller on Wednesday after a Treasury Inspector General report faulted the IRS for ineffective management, and that the agency allowed agents to improperly target tea party groups for more than 18 months.
