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Former congressman Billy Long, who represented Missouri for six terms, has been selected by Trump to lead the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Long has been involved in assisting businesses in claiming a tax credit during the pandemic, which has been plagued by fraud and has ended up costing the government billions more than expected.
Written by Andrew Duehren
Writing from the capital
President-elect Donald J. Trump announced on Wednesday his intention to nominate Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, to head the Internal Revenue Service. This decision also implies his plan to dismiss the current leader of the IRS, who was appointed by President Biden.
Following his defeat in a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long has promoted a tax credit created during the pandemic that has been plagued by fraudulent activity, leading to higher costs for the government than originally anticipated. Lawmakers have attempted to end the tax credit, and the I.R.S. has halted the processing of claims temporarily in order to identify and eliminate fake applications for the tax benefit.
During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long talked about how he assists businesses in obtaining the Employee Retention Tax Credit. He mentioned that neither him nor his colleagues have had a claim denied by the tax agency. The Employee Retention Tax Credit was established by Congress and former President Trump in 2020 to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees during the economic shutdown.
"We do not sneak anyone through," he explained. "We always make sure that they qualify for the refund of their own money from the IRS, including interest."
Donald Trump announced his selection for a new leader of the IRS on his social media platform, potentially causing significant changes within the agency at a crucial time. The Biden administration has invested a substantial amount of money in updating the IRS and enhancing its tax collection activities, aiming to enhance customer service and combat tax evasion.
President Biden selected Daniel Werfel in 2022 to head the I.R.S. transformation. Werfel, with experience in management consulting and government service in both Democratic and Republican administrations, was appointed to serve until 2027.
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