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Trump Transition: Ex-Congressman Billy Long Nominated to Lead IRS Amid Controversy

In Citizen
January 17, 2025

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Former Missouri congressman Billy Long has been chosen by Trump to lead the IRS. Long, who served six terms in Congress, has been assisting businesses in claiming a tax credit during the pandemic that has seen widespread fraud and ended up costing the government billions more than expected.

Written by Andrew Duehren

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On Wednesday, President-elect Donald J. Trump announced his intention to appoint Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, as the new head of the Internal Revenue Service. This decision signals Trump’s plan to remove the current IRS leader, who was appointed by President Biden.

After being unsuccessful in a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long has promoted a tax credit designed for the pandemic era that has been plagued by fraudulent claims and has ended up costing the government billions more than initially anticipated. In order to address the issue of fraud, lawmakers have attempted to eliminate the tax credit altogether, and the IRS has temporarily halted the processing of claims to identify and eliminate false applications.

During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long talked about how he and his team have successfully helped businesses take advantage of the Employee Retention Tax Credit. This program, established by Congress and Mr. Trump in 2020, was designed to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees during the economic shutdown. Mr. Long mentioned that they have not yet had any claims denied by the tax agency.

He stated that they do not secretly allow anyone to receive the refund. They ensure that individuals meet the qualifications for the refund from the IRS, along with any interest owed.

President Trump announced his selection for a new leader of the IRS on his social media platform, which would bring significant changes to the agency during a critical time. The Biden administration has invested large amounts of money into updating the agency and strengthening its tax collection initiatives in order to enhance customer service and combat tax evasion.

President Biden selected Daniel Werfel, a former consultant and government worker with experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations, to manage the reorganization of the I.R.S. Werfel’s term was expected to continue until 2027.

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