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Former Congressman Billy Long, who previously represented Missouri for six terms, has been chosen by Trump to lead the IRS. Long has been involved in assisting businesses in claiming a tax credit during the pandemic, which has resulted in fraud and higher costs to the government than expected.
Written by Andrew Duehren
Writing from the nation
President-elect Donald J. Trump announced his intention to nominate Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, to take over as the head of the Internal Revenue Service. This decision implies that Trump plans 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 which has been plagued by fraud and has ended up costing the government billions more than initially anticipated. In an effort to combat this issue, lawmakers have attempted to eliminate the tax credit, and the I.R.S. has temporarily halted the processing of claims in order to identify and reject fraudulent applications for the tax break.
During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long talked about how he and his team have successfully helped businesses apply for the Employee Retention Tax Credit without any rejections from the tax agency so far. This program was established by Congress and former President Trump in 2020 to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees during the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.
He explained that they do not engage in any sneaky practices and always ensure that individuals truly qualify for the refund from the IRS with interest.
The announcement made by Mr. Trump on his social media platform suggests a significant change in the leadership of the IRS during a crucial time. The Biden administration has invested a considerable amount of money in 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 IRS. Werfel, a former management consultant and civil servant with experience in both Democratic and Republican governments, was appointed to serve until 2027.
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