President Trump has withdrawn his nomination of Donald Korb as the IRS’ top lawyer ahead of his scheduled confirmation vote. Although the White House did not share further details, a staunch supporter of the president says her recent criticism of Korb online spurred Trump to pull the nomination.
“Please be advised that I am withdrawing the nomination of Donald Korb to be Assistant General Counsel in the Department of the Treasury,” Trump posted on Truth Social November 14. Korb, a legal advisor at the IRS during the Bush administration, was tapped for the position April 29 to succeed Marjorie Rollinson. Kenneth Kies currently sits as acting chief counsel, the latest interim fill-in after William Paul and, more recently, Andrew De Mello.
There was speculation over the weekend that Trump’s reversal came in response to a series of posts on X by conservative activist Laura Loomer criticizing Korb for ties with Democrat leaders, as well as his political donation history to Trump’s political adversaries. According to Loomer, Korb should have been disqualified for “receiving support” from Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and praising Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Neither the White House nor Treasury Department have elaborated on the withdrawal. But on Monday, Loomer took to X again to take credit for Korb no longer being considered for the role despite Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) filing a cloture motion in the Senate November 10.
“On Friday, after reviewing my report, President Trump withdrew the nomination of Donald Korb to serve as Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service, one day before the Senate was scheduled to vote on cloture for a large package of administration appointees,” wrote Loomer.
This latest thread harped on Korb’s connection to Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy Kevin Salinger, who was recommended for that job by Korb personally. Loomer pointed out that Salinger worked under Korb at Sullivan & Cromwell for about 10 years. She alleged Salinger performed “extensive pro bono work” for nonprofit Immigration Equality and was a board member of a Los Angeles-based organization that provides legal assistance to undocumented individuals.
In September, the Senate Finance Committee considered Korb’s nomination at a hearing set against a backdrop of widespread government staffing cuts and vacancies in key senior positions, namely the head of the IRS itself. The agency’s current acting commissioner is Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the seventh official to hold the reigns at the IRS this year after former Commissioner Danny Werfel’s resignation.
Korb was met with skepticism from Democrats at the hearing about the agency’s readiness to timely roll out guidance implementing the One Big Beautiful Bill signed July 4. While top Republican taxwriters commended Korb for his experience and prior service, ongoing concerns about the IRS’ leadership and tax season preparedness go beyond a single nominee.
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