Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has revealed that he and his wife were hit with an IRS audit demanding immediate payment of more than $33,000 in taxes. The timing of the audit, which came as the Biden administration was leaving office, has fueled suspicions of political targeting.
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 shared a copy of the IRS letter online, calling it a “total sham” and suggesting the audit was an act of retaliation. “The party of ‘norms’ and ‘decency’ strikes again,” he wrote.
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 confirmed or denied whether the audit was routine or initiated for specific reasons. Tax filings of incoming cabinet members often receive additional scrutiny, but the sudden nature of this case has drawn comparisons to past accusations of IRS weaponization.
Under previous administrations, the agency has been accused of using its power to target political opponents. The Obama-era IRS faced backlash for investigating conservative groups, and journalist Matt Taibbi was visited by IRS agents in 2023 after reporting on government censorship efforts.
Hegseth’s confirmation process was contentious, with critics questioning his qualifications and resurfacing past allegations. However, he secured the position in a 51-50 Senate vote and has since played a role in President Trump’s efforts to restructure Pentagon leadership.
Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency, weighed in on Hegseth’s audit, stating, “They love the low blows.” The comment has led to speculation that DOGE may be looking into whether the IRS engaged in politically motivated actions.
