Newly appointed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has revealed that he and his wife received an audit notice from the IRS, demanding more than $33,000 in taxes. The timing of the review, issued just before President Donald Trump’s administration took over, has led to accusations that the Biden team targeted him for political reasons.
Of course the outgoing Biden IRS rushed an “audit” of the incoming SecDef. Total sham.
The party of “norms” and “decency” strikes again. We will never back down. pic.twitter.com/coW1UpFPrD
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) February 17, 2025
Hegseth, sharing the audit notice on X, called it a “total sham” and suggested it was an attempt to undermine him as he stepped into his new role. “We will never back down,” he added, vowing to challenge what he sees as unfair treatment.
JUST IN:
The Biden regime's IRS rushed to audit Pete and Jennifer Hegseth.
We need the DOJ to investigate who called the shots on this! https://t.co/vbU9MW9Jr5
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) February 17, 2025
The IRS has yet to address whether the audit was a standard review or initiated for specific reasons. While cabinet nominees often undergo financial examinations, Hegseth’s tax records had already been a topic of discussion during his Senate confirmation hearings.
Despite opposition from Senate Democrats, who questioned his background and previous financial dealings, Hegseth was confirmed in a 51-50 vote. His appointment has already led to significant changes at the Pentagon, including the revocation of security clearances for certain former officials.
Past instances of IRS scrutiny have drawn accusations of political targeting, including under the Obama administration when conservative groups were singled out for audits. More recently, journalist Matt Taibbi was visited by IRS agents in 2023 on the same day he testified before Congress about government overreach.
Elon Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency, responded to the situation by saying, “They love the low blows.” His remarks have sparked speculation that DOGE may investigate whether the IRS engaged in politically motivated actions.
