Kathleen Walters

Kathleen Walters, a former IRS privacy chief who resigned rather than break the law. Don Moynihan, a University of Michigan public policy professor who studies civil service and reform. They discuss principled resignation over data requests. They trace the history of merit-based hiring, recent politicized hiring practices, mass departures and legal routes for firings, and threats to public services and elections.

Kathleen Walters, former IRS Chief Privacy Officer, discusses her nearly two-decade tenure at the agency and the complex data sharing deal with the Department of Homeland Security. She shares insights into her departure motivated by disagreements over privacy practices and talks about the emotional aspects of leaving a role tied to public service. As a working mom, Kathleen highlights how parenting enhances her leadership skills and the ongoing challenges of data privacy in an AI-driven world, emphasizing the importance of effective governance.