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Trump’s Controversial Pick for IRS Leader Raises Concerns Amid Transition

In Citizen
January 17, 2025

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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 meant for pandemic relief, which has unfortunately been plagued with fraud and has ended up costing the government much more than originally expected.

Written by Andrew Duehren

Writing from the capital

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

Following his defeat in a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long has been promoting a tax credit created during the pandemic that has been plagued by fraud and ended up costing the government far more than anticipated. Legislators have attempted to eliminate the tax credit, and the I.R.S. has temporarily halted the processing of claims in an effort to identify and reject fraudulent applications for the tax benefit.

During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long talked about how he assists businesses in claiming the Employee Retention Tax Credit. He mentioned that neither he nor his colleagues have had a claim denied by the tax agency. This credit was established by Congress and Mr. Trump in 2020 as a way to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees during the economic shutdown.

He stated that they do not allow anyone to cheat the system, but instead ensure that they meet the qualifications for receiving a refund from the IRS along with interest.

President Trump made a new selection for a key position in the IRS, which was revealed on his social media platform. This decision would significantly impact the IRS during a crucial time. The Biden administration has invested a large amount of money into updating the agency and strengthening its efforts to collect taxes, aiming to enhance customer service and combat tax evasion.

In the year 2022, President Biden selected Daniel Werfel, a former consultant and government employee with experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations, to be in charge of restructuring the I.R.S. Werfel was expected to hold this position until 2027.

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