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Trump Transition: Controversy Surrounds Trump’s Nomination of Ex-Congressman to Lead I.R.S.

In Citizen
January 18, 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. This tax credit has experienced a high level of fraud and has ended up costing the government much more than initially expected.

Written by Andrew Duehren

Writing from the nation

Donald J. Trump, who is set to become the President, announced on Wednesday that he plans to nominate Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, to head the Internal Revenue Service. This decision indicates his intention 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 introduced during the pandemic that has been plagued by fraudulent activity, resulting in the government spending billions more than anticipated. 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 for the tax benefit.

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 rejections from the tax agency so far. The credit was established by Congress and former President Trump in 2020 as a way to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees during the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.

He stated that they do not allow anyone to cheat the system, and they ensure that individuals who apply for the refund are genuinely eligible for it, including the interest from the I.R.S. It is their goal to ensure that people receive the money they are entitled to.

President Trump announced his selection for a key position at the IRS through his social media platform, which has the potential to bring about significant changes within the agency. The Biden administration has allocated a significant amount of money towards updating the agency and strengthening its efforts to collect taxes, with the goal of enhancing customer service and combatting tax evasion.

President Biden selected Daniel Werfel, who has experience working in various government administrations, to head the restructuring of the I.R.S. Werfel, who has a background in management consulting and civil service, was appointed to lead the organization until 2027.

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