A senior Internal Revenue Service (IRS) official has been dismissed after a series of political posts on LinkedIn drew scrutiny for targeting President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers.
Niki Wilkinson, a high-ranking officer within the agency, confirmed the remarks were hers but acknowledged she was not authorized to speak on behalf of the IRS.
The posts came to light when The Daily Caller reported on Wilkinson’s LinkedIn activity, prompting questions about political neutrality within the IRS.
Conservatives have long accused the agency of unfairly targeting right-leaning groups, and Wilkinson’s outspoken online activity renewed concerns about the agency’s credibility at a time when officials are trying to restore public trust.
Wilkinson’s LinkedIn activity first drew attention because of her outspoken defense of Holly Paz, the former IRS deputy who worked under Lois Lerner during the Obama-era Tea Party scandal.
Paz became a flashpoint after Republicans alleged she oversaw politically motivated audits that disproportionately impacted conservative organizations. The Trump administration later placed Paz on leave following those allegations.
In a widely circulated post, Wilkinson blasted GOP lawmakers who scrutinized Paz’s role.
“Such a farce! Interesting how Senators outside the IRS are fear mongering and falsely describing the work,” she wrote, claiming that examiners uncovered “fraud or noncompliance” rather than carrying out audits for partisan purposes.
Her remarks went well beyond defending Paz. Wilkinson repeatedly criticized Trump himself, accusing him of corruption and self-dealing.
She cited controversial pardons, alleged interference in redistricting and the use of government positions for personal gain, insisting that no other president had engaged in similar behavior.
When approached by TDC, Wilkinson confirmed her LinkedIn comments and even provided an organizational chart to show that Paz was far removed from day-to-day auditing operations.
She argued that the IRS had safeguards in place to prevent political abuse. Critics countered that her partisan language reinforced suspicions that the agency was hostile to conservatives.
According to sources close to the White House, Wilkinson’s position quickly became untenable once her posts surfaced.
She was terminated shortly after the outlet’s reporting, though she did not respond to requests for comment about her removal.
The controversy tapped into broader frustrations that have shadowed the IRS for years.
Conservatives point to the Tea Party scandal as proof that the agency cannot be trusted to act impartially.
For many, Wilkinson’s outspoken criticism of Trump and Republicans validated those longstanding concerns, according to the American Tribune.
The situation also highlights how social media has complicated the lives of public servants. While federal employees retain the right to hold political views, expressing them under professional titles carries risks.
Wilkinson’s decision to share her views in a forum tied to her IRS role blurred the lines between personal opinion and official capacity, creating a conflict that ultimately cost her job, the outlet noted.
For the IRS, the dismissal marks another setback in efforts to rebuild confidence with taxpayers.
For conservatives, however, the move is seen as overdue accountability for an agency many believe has operated with political favoritism.
