Rajiv Uppal, Chief Information Officer of the Internal Revenue Service, announced his resignation just ahead of the April 15 tax-filing deadline. After two years at the helm of the IRS’s IT infrastructure, Uppal will exit the agency on April 28 under a deferred resignation arrangement.
His departure marks the latest in a series of high-profile resignations that have recently impacted the IRS’s senior ranks.
Kaschit Pandya, the current Chief Technology Officer, will step in as acting CIO while the IRS leadership decides on a permanent replacement. The timing of Uppal’s resignation coincides with broader efforts by the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency to streamline federal agencies, including plans to reduce the IRS workforce and operational costs.
Why It Matters: The departure of the IRS’s top technology official in the middle of tax season raises concerns about operational stability at a time when the agency is already strained. The wave of resignations has led to fears of a “brain drain” that could disrupt tax processing and compromise modernization efforts.
- Strategic Exit Before Key Deadline: Rajiv Uppal’s resignation comes just before Tax Day, creating uncertainty in leadership at a critical moment for the IRS’s technological operations and filing systems.
- Broader Pattern of Resignations: Uppal joins several senior IRS officials who have stepped down in recent weeks, including the acting commissioner and chief privacy officer, many of whom expressed legal or ethical concerns about recent data-sharing agreements with DHS.
- Deferred Resignation Offer Incentive: Uppal’s resignation takes advantage of a revived Trump-era offer allowing federal employees to exit with extended paid leave, part of a strategy to downsize the federal workforce.
- Transition to Interim Leadership: Kaschit Pandya, who has been collaborating with DOGE members and taking on CIO responsibilities informally, will assume acting leadership, hinting at continuity but also signaling close ties to ongoing restructuring efforts.
Go Deeper -> IRS Chief Information Officer to Depart Agency After Two Years – Bloomberg Tax
IRS chief information officer announces resignation on eve of tax-filing day – Reuters
