Ways and Means members express grave concerns over Trump IRS settlement

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) and 11 of her Democratic Ways and Means Committee colleagues last week called on the Trump administration to address concerns over the recent IRS settlement that prevents the prosecution or pursuit of claims against President Trump, his family or his businesses for not complying with federal tax law.

“President Trump has continually defrauded taxpayers to enrich himself and his family,” the members wrote. “He has a long history of using taxpayer dollars for his own personal gain and corrupting his position to further line his own pockets. We hope that you will provide us with assurances that the IRS will hold him to the same law-abiding standard that we hold all Americans to.”

In addition to Sánchez, the letter was signed by Representatives Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), John Larson (D-Conn.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), and Brad Schneider (D-Ill.).

The full text of the letter is available HERE and follows:

May 28, 2026

The Honorable Scott Bessent 
Secretary
U.S. Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20220 

The Honorable Frank Bisignano 
Chief Executive Officer
Internal Revenue Service
1111 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20224

The Honorable Todd Blanche
Acting Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Bessent, CEO Bisignano, and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche,

We write to you today out of grave concern for the stipulation in the recent Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) settlement that prevents the prosecution or pursuit of claims against President Trump, his family, or his businesses for not complying with federal tax law. 

In an additional addendum filed on May 19, 2026, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appears to bar President Trump and the Plaintiffs in Trump v. Internal Revenue Service, No. 1:26-cv-20609 (S.D.Fla.) from being audited by the IRS. This appears to include tax audits, regardless of whether any fraudulent tax activity has taken place. 

In 2019, the Ways and Means Committee found that the IRS had failed to audit President Trump’s tax returns during the first two years of his presidency. Given President Trump’s lack of transparency surrounding his tax returns, and the IRS’s reticence about ensuring compliance, we are concerned that this ruling will give President Trump ample opportunity to continue to enhance his own personal wealth at the expense of American taxpayers. 

Thus, we request clarification on this settlement agreement and how it will affect additional tax returns that may be submitted by the President. Please provide written answers to the following questions by June 20^th. 

• If President Trump were to amend a tax return filed before the addendum’s effective date, would this settlement prevent the IRS from auditing that amended return? Would the IRS issue President Trump a refund based on that amendment, without audit or examination? 
• Does this settlement immunize President Trump from being audited by the IRS after he leaves office?
• President Trump has traded tens of millions of dollars in stocks in the first quarter of 2026 alone. Should he fail to report the gains from any stock sales to the IRS, would the IRS have any legal remedy to collect taxes owed on those gains?
• Is there any legal precedent for an elected official to be forever barred and precluded from prosecution by an independent agency? 
• This addendum mentions that family, without restriction, will be granted the same immunity from such prosecution. How long does this immunity extend – would President Trump’s grandchildren and great grandchildren be immune from prosecution? 

President Trump has continually defrauded taxpayers to enrich himself and his family. He has a long history of using taxpayer dollars for his own personal gain and corrupting his position to further line his own pockets. We hope that you will provide us with assurances that the IRS will hold him to the same law-abiding standard that we hold all Americans to. 

Thank you in advance for your attention to this concerning matter. 

Sincerely,

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