In this March 27, 2009, file photo, John Koskinen is seen outside the White House in Washington. President Barack Obama has nominated Koskinen as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) commissioner. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File) ORG XMIT: WX108 (Photo: Ron Edmonds AP)
WASHINGTON--President Obama said on Thursday that he intends to nominate John Koskinen to serve as Internal Revenue Service commissioner.
If confirmed by the Senate, Koskinen would replace Daniel Werfel, a longtime budget adviser, who has led the troubled agency on an acting basis since May. Werfel replaced Steven Miller, who was ousted by Obama, in the aftermath of revelations that the agency targeted conservative groups for extra scrutiny.
"John is an expert at turning around institutions in need of reform," Obama said in a statement. "With decades of experience, in both the private and public sectors, John knows how to lead in difficult times, whether that means ensuring new management or implementing new checks and balances."
Koskinen worked at he government-controlled mortgage funding group Freddie Mac as a non-executive chairman after the organization came under fire after the 2008 financial crisis.
He also served in the Clinton administration, heading the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion, and as deputy director for management of the Office of Management and Budget from 1994 to 1997, a period that included several government shutdowns.
Koskinen also worked in the District of Columbia government, where he served as deputy mayor from 2000 to 2003.
