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Trump Transition: Controversial Nominee for IRS Leadership Raises Concerns

In Citizen
January 18, 2025

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Former Congressman Billy Long, who represented Missouri for six terms, has been chosen by Trump to lead the Internal Revenue Service. Long has been assisting businesses in claiming a tax credit during the pandemic, which has been plagued with fraudulent activity and has resulted in the government losing billions more than expected.

Written by Andrew Duehren

Writing from the capital

Donald J. Trump, who has been elected as president, announced on Wednesday that he plans to nominate Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, to be in charge of the Internal Revenue Service. This decision implies that he intends to dismiss the current leader of the IRS, who was appointed by Biden.

After losing a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long promoted a tax credit created during the pandemic that has been plagued by fraudulent activity, resulting in the government spending billions more than anticipated. In response, lawmakers have attempted to eliminate the tax credit and the I.R.S. has temporarily halted processing claims in order to identify and reject 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, with no denials from the tax agency so far. This program, established by Congress and Mr. Trump in 2020 as part of a large stimulus package, was designed to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees during the economic downturn.

He stated that they do not secretly help anyone qualify for the IRS refund with interest; they ensure that individuals genuinely meet the criteria to receive their own money back.

President Trump made a significant decision to appoint a new leader for the IRS, which could bring about major changes at 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.

President Biden selected Daniel Werfel in 2022 to head the restructuring of the I.R.S. Werfel, a former management consultant and civil servant with experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations, was appointed to serve until 2027.

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