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Former Congressman Billy Long, who represented Missouri for six terms, has been chosen by Trump to lead the IRS. Long has been assisting businesses in claiming a tax credit during the pandemic, which has experienced widespread fraud and has ended up costing the government billions more than originally expected.
Written by Andrew Duehren
Reporting live from the
Donald J. Trump, who will soon become president, announced on Wednesday that he plans to appoint Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, to be in charge of the Internal Revenue Service. This means that he intends to remove the current leader, who was appointed by President Biden.
Following his defeat in a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long has promoted a tax credit introduced during the pandemic that has been heavily exploited by fraudsters, resulting in a significant increase in government spending. Efforts have been made by lawmakers to eliminate this tax credit, and the I.R.S. has taken steps to identify and reject fraudulent claims.
During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long talked about his efforts to assist businesses in claiming the Employee Retention Tax Credit. He mentioned that he and his team have not had any claims denied by the tax agency. This program, established by Congress and Mr. Trump in 2020, was included in a stimulus bill to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees during the economic shutdown.
"We do not sneak anyone through," he explained. "We thoroughly verify that they meet the qualifications for this refund of their own money from the I.R.S., along with interest."
Donald Trump’s selection, revealed on his social media platform, would bring significant changes to the Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.) during a crucial time. The Biden administration has invested substantial amounts of money in updating the agency and strengthening its efforts to collect taxes in order to enhance customer service and combat tax evasion.
In 2022, President Biden appointed Daniel Werfel, a former consultant and government employee with experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations, to head the restructuring of the I.R.S. Werfel was expected to serve in this role until 2027.
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