Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined to tell senators whether President Donald Trump, his family and related businesses still have immunity from IRS audits under a disputed settlement tied to Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS.
Bessent cited ongoing litigation during a Senate Finance Committee hearing, frustrating Democrats who pressed him for a direct answer. The administration has dropped a separate $1.776 billion compensation fund that had drawn bipartisan criticism, but the status of the audit-immunity provision remains unclear.
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According to AP reporting, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated that “nothing has changed” regarding the audit-immunity portion of the deal. A federal judge in Florida has reopened Trump’s IRS lawsuit to examine questions surrounding the settlement.
The consequence is direct: Congress still does not have a clear answer on whether Trump-linked individuals and businesses remain protected from future IRS scrutiny.
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