President Obama Appoints Daniel Werfel as Acting Commissioner of Internal Revenue

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Office of the Press Secretary

WASHINGTON – President Obama today announced the appointment of Daniel Werfel as Acting Commissioner of Internal Revenue, effective Wednesday, May 22.  As Acting Commissioner, Mr. Werfel will lead efforts to ensure the IRS implements new safeguards to restore public trust and administers the tax code with fairness and integrity.  Mr. Werfel has agreed to serve through the end of the fiscal year.

President Obama said, “Throughout his career working in both Democratic and Republican administrations, Danny has proven an effective leader who serves with professionalism, integrity and skill.  The American people deserve to have the utmost confidence and trust in their government, and as we work to get to the bottom of what happened and restore confidence in the IRS, Danny has the experience and management ability necessary to lead the agency at this important time.”

Mr. Werfel, 42, currently serves as Controller of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), where he has led efforts across the federal government to improve Federal program integrity, including all areas of financial management, financial reporting, accounting standards, improper payments, and financial systems, among others. Prior to his current role, Mr. Werfel served in multiple career civil service capacities at OMB, including as Deputy Controller, Chief of the Financial Integrity and Analysis Branch, Budget Examiner in the Education Branch, and Policy Analyst in the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Mr. Werfel has also served as a Trial Attorney in the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division.

Mr. Werfel is a recipient of both national and local awards from the Association of Government Accountants for his contributions to Federal financial management. During the Bush Administration, he was the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service. Mr. Werfel also served as a member of the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board from 2006 to 2009.

Mr. Werfel holds a Masters Degree in Public Policy from Duke University, a Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Bachelors Degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.

Here’s a quick glimpse at what happened this week on WhiteHouse.gov.

The President and the Department of Defense are taking unprecedented steps to protect our environment, achieve significant cost savings, and give our military better energy options.

Today at the White House, we convened the 10th annual meeting of the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

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Readout of the President’s Calls to Special Agent in Charge Deslauriers and Commissioner Davis

Readout of the President’s Calls to Special Agent in Charge Deslauriers and Commissioner Davis | The White House Skip to main content | Skip to footer site map The White House. President Barack Obama Get Email UpdatesContact Us Go to homepage. The White House Blog Photos & Videos Photo Galleries Video Performances Live Streams Podcasts 2012: A Year in Photos

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For Immediate Release April 22, 2013 Readout of the President’s Calls to Special Agent in Charge Deslauriers and Commissioner Davis

Today, the President placed calls to FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard Deslauriers and Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis to express his appreciation to the men and women of the Boston Field Office, Boston Police Department, and all the members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force. The President hailed the professionalism and bravery demonstrated by officers since Monday, and praised the impressive coordination between these federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies who together were able to bring this chapter of this tragedy to a close. While the President acknowledged there is still much work ahead, he thanked Special Agent in Charge Deslauriers and Commissioner Davis for their leadership and told them that the law enforcement officials, the citizens of Boston, and all affected by this tragedy were in his thoughts and prayers.

Blog posts on this issue April 22, 2013 6:34 PM EDTCelebrate National Park Week!

National Park Week celebrates and gives back to our country’s great natural and cultural landscapes.

April 22, 2013 5:57 PM EDTYoung Scientists and Innovators Amaze President Obama at the White House Science Fair

100 students from more than 40 states were at the White House for an all-day, hands-on celebration of the power and potential of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.

April 20, 2013 1:10 PM EDTWatch Live: 2013 White House Science Fair

President Obama hosts the 3rd Annual White House Science Fair and celebrate the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country.

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NFL commissioner ‘optimistic’ about league’s future despite safety concerns

National Football League (NFL) commissioner Roger Goodell "couldn't be more optimistic" about the future of professional football, despite growing concern about the sport's injuries.

President Obama said in a recent interview with The New Republic that if he had a son, he would "have to think long and hard" about letting him play football. Concerns have mounted over the long-term health impacts of the sport, particularly when it comes to repetitive head injuries.

But Goodell said the NFL was doing everything it could to keep the sport entertaining for fans, but safe for players.

"What you have to do is make sure the game is as safe as possible," he said on CBS's "Face the Nation." "In the NFL, we're changing the rules."

On Super Bowl Sunday, Goodell touted the NFL's efforts to update equipment to protect against injuries, and its investment in medical research on head injuries and brain damage.

"We take those issues very seriously," he said. "We're going to let the medical individuals make those points. We're going to give them the money to advance that science."

Furthermore, the NFL is studying how the game is played, looking for further ways to keep players healthy.

"The game of football has always evolved," he said. "If we see techniques that we think lead to injuries, we're going to get them out of the game."

He also pointed out that women's soccer has the second-highest rate of head injuries of any sport. Like Obama, the commissioner said he has two daughters.

"I'm concerned when they play any sport," he said.

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