Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has accused the Biden administration’s IRS of conducting a politically motivated audit against him and his family. The newly appointed cabinet official revealed on social media that the agency sent him a notice demanding immediate payment of over $33,000 in back taxes.
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 took to X to denounce the audit, writing, “The party of ‘norms’ and ‘decency’ strikes again. We will never back down.” His comments suggest that he believes the IRS deliberately fast-tracked the review before President Donald Trump’s administration could take over.
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 not issued a statement regarding the audit, and it is unclear whether it was initiated as part of standard financial reviews or for other reasons. Incoming cabinet officials often undergo financial scrutiny, though concerns over Hegseth’s tax filings were already discussed during his Senate confirmation hearings.
Hegseth’s nomination faced resistance from Democrats, some of whom questioned his qualifications. Despite the controversy, he was confirmed in a narrow 51-50 vote. Since taking office, he has worked with President Trump on policy changes at the Pentagon, including the removal of security clearances for certain former officials.
The IRS has a history of facing accusations of bias, most notably when it was found to have targeted conservative groups under the Obama administration. In 2023, journalist Matt Taibbi was visited by IRS agents on the day he was set to testify before Congress about censorship.
Elon Musk, who oversees government reform efforts through DOGE, commented on Hegseth’s situation, calling the audit an example of political attacks. His statement has fueled speculation about whether DOGE will investigate further.
