Newly-disclosed emails from former President Joe Biden’s Treasury Department show coordination between the administration and left-wing organizations on tax policy and messaging, raising concerns about the influence of special interest groups over the prior White House.

Public records from the Treasury Department were obtained by Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT) via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, which include documents that show email correspondence between Biden Treasury Department officials and employees of left-wing nonprofits. In the emails, the officials and nonprofits worked together on developing talking points and policy, showing a very close relationship where the latter had sway over the former.

In December 2022, Victoria Esser, founder of Belle Haven Consulting, LLC, emailed Ellen Nissenbaum, who at the time was Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), regarding talking points for Jack Lew, former Treasury secretary for the Obama administration. CBPP was a contributor to shaping Obamacare.

Asking for coordination 

“I know Ellen already saw this release from House [Ways and Means Republicans],” Esser wrote. “Jack asked me to coordinate with you all on the best response. He is likely doing CNBC Squawk Box and Bloomberg Balance of Power next week and week after. I think he is comfortable on advocating for funding piece but anticipating some potential snark question/s on false assertion that tax gap numbers are inflated/supposed abuse/going after middle class. Would you be able to help?”

Nissenbaum sent the email to Natasha Sarin, who at the time was counselor to then-Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for Tax Policy and Implementation, writing, “Natasha, Are you doing anything for Dems in response to this? Tx.”

About a year earlier, in November 2021, Nissenbaum wrote an email to Chuck Marr, Vice President for Federal Tax Policy at CBPP, saying “Natasha Sarin called last night. They are seeing Repubs shift their attacks from the IRS enforcement to the IRS money. Treasury is worried Repubs will attack the OTA estimate and point to the forthcoming lower estimate of savings when the CBO score is out."

“Natasha noted that Repubs like Portman and others during BIF negotiations argued that CBO was too conservative in its estimates, and Treasury folks wondered if we might put something out (eg. A blog or tweet thread) when the CBO scores comes out, pointing to the Repubs’ statements and offering defense of OTA as much as we can,” Nissenbaum continued. “They will send quotes. Also wants some state related help, Michael, that I’ll fill you in on later – will give you a call.”

Marr responded, writing, “Yes – we intend to – Samantha is drafting a blog. It will defend the score plus note if critics, such as the GOP, are so concerned about tax gap revenue then they should add the info reporting proposal for some fiscal insurance.”

Nissenbaum then sent an email to Sarin, writing, “Your eyes only. You’re sending me some quotes, and what you want [regarding] a state person to comment on how the IRS $ would help?” In another email, Sarin wrote, “Hi Ellen, Yes, I’ll send you quotes, we are putting together a document for you now.”

Promoting "equity" and outsourcing policy making 

In emails from May 2022, Treasury Department officials discuss a meeting that was to take place between CBPP, Public Citizen, and the Treasury’s deputy secretary. Public Citizen was founded by former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader.

An email from Antonio White, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Community Engagement at the time, to Susan Harley, managing director for Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division, reads, “The Deputy Secretary is looking forward to hosting you at Treasury for tomorrow for a two-way dialogue on Treasury’s efforts to modernize the IRS and promote equity in the process."

“The discussion will focus on two broad areas: First, the IRS’s developing role as a benefits administrator within our government and economy, looking at our experience with the American Rescue Plan’s Child Tax Credit program as an ongoing case study; and second, how we think about the importance of overhauling tax enforcement to create a more equitable tax code, and the importance of investing in the IRS’s efforts here.

“Below are question for the group’s consideration in advance of tomorrow’s discussion: The Child Tax Credit program broke new ground in program design, transitioning a partially refundable annual credit into a fully refundable credit and monthly payment program. What are our key lessons learned from a legislative and policy perspective for tax benefits in the future? What are the major takeaways for outreach and program implementation going forward? We are working to secure additional multi-year funding for the IRS to focus on high-end evasion relative to less resource-intensive correspondence audits on the low-end. What principles should underlie the IRS’s compliance efforts?”

A few months later, in August 2022, Nissenbaum sent an email to Sarin, writing, “Nina Olson just announced on a groups’ call that any estimates of savings Treasury does for program integrity has never said Rs will try to cut the $80b in half, and change ratio and enforcement/customer service. I piped up and said it’s not helpful for her comments to get off the call, all she agreed these are her personal comments and she wants the bill to move forward. She also said she thinks more of the money should (like the Repubs) shift from enforcement to customer service. Don’t call her – it will clearly be pinned on me. I can think about whether I should send her an email and CC Chai, Ching and Chuck. So maddening.”

PPT Director Michael Chamberlain told Just the News on Friday that these nonprofits had too much influence over the Treasury Department.

“These documents reveal Treasury officials exhibiting much of the worst of the Biden administration – overreach of statutory authority, outsourcing policy making to outside special interest groups, and dealing harshly with dissenting voices,” Chamberlain said.

“Yet perhaps the most troubling aspect of these records is how closely Treasury officials and the special interests worked together on messaging, with political appointees even promising to provide messages for an outside group to use to push back against political opponents. It’s difficult to discern at times where the Biden administration ended and the special interest groups began. These incidents supply yet more evidence why the American public’s trust in its government plummeted during this time.”

Sarin, White, and Nissenbaum didn’t respond to requests for comment by publishing time.