Obama Naming White House Official as Acting IRS Head

President Barack Obama speaks in the rain during a news conference in the White House Rose Garden, May 16, 2013 in Washington. (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama will appoint senior White House budget officer Daniel Werfel to be acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, a White House official says.

Werfel will replace Steven Miller, ousted Wednesday amid revelations that the IRS improperly singled out conservative groups for special scrutiny.

The 42-year-old Werfel is the controller of the Office of Management and Budget, a job akin to a chief financial officer. Though Werfel was appointed to that job by Obama, he also worked during the administration of President George W. Bush.

The official was not authorized to speak on the record about the announcement and revealed Werfel's appointment on the condition of anonymity.

After days of inaction, Obama has tried to move swiftly in response to reports of inappropriate targeting by the IRS.