Todd Grams, the Veterans Affairs Department’s chief financial officer, is leaving to become chief of staff at the IRS.
In an email sent today to “Friends and Colleagues,” Grams, who is also the VA’s executive-in-charge for management, said he is returning to the IRS this week at the request of acting Commissioner Danny Werfel.
“For a total of almost 11 years (over two tours), I have had the honor to serve our nation’s veterans,” Grams said. “I am very grateful to have had both opportunities to contribute at the VA.” Grams was previously at the IRS from 2001 to 2006, first as CFO and then as chief information officer, according to his official bio.
Grams is at least the fourth senior official to exit the Veterans Affairs Department—the second largest Executive Branch agency–since February. Others include Deputy Secretary Scott Gould, Chief Information Officer Roger Baker and Chief Technology Officer Peter Levin.
Two years ago, Grams’ work in consolidating and streamlining VA management earned him a prestigious Service to America (“Sammie”) award from the Partnership for Public Service. Asked who will replace him, VA spokesman Josh Taylor in an email this afternoon that he had “nothing on that yet.”
Grams isn’t Werfel’s only new hire. In a news release today, the IRS said that Heather Maloy will be deputy commissioner for services and enforcement, while David Fisher will become a senior adviser and chief risk officer.
Fisher, who headed the Defense Department’s now disbanded Business Transformation Agency, has more recently been chief administrative and financial officer at the Government Accountability Office. Maloy has been commissioner for the IRS’s Large Business and International Division. The release doesn’t say who–if anyone–each of the three is replacing.
“Their extensive expertise in management inside and outside the IRS will help us make improvements now and in the future,” Werfel said. “These are essential steps to restore the public’s trust and ensure the fair and effective administration of the nation’s tax system.”
