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Trump Transition: Ex-Congressman Who Hawked Tax Credits Nominated to Lead IRS

In Citizen
January 18, 2025

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Former Missouri congressman Billy Long has been selected by Trump to lead the IRS. Long, who served six terms in Congress, has been involved in assisting businesses in claiming a tax credit during the pandemic. Unfortunately, this tax credit has been plagued with fraud and has ended up costing the government billions more than initially expected.

Written by Andrew Duehren.

Writing from the nation

On Wednesday, 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 move indicates Trump’s plan to remove the current leader of the tax agency, who was appointed by President Biden.

After losing a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long promoted a tax credit created during the pandemic that has been plagued by fraudulent claims, resulting in billions of dollars more in costs to the government than anticipated. Lawmakers have attempted to terminate the tax credit, and the I.R.S. has temporarily halted the processing of claims in order to identify and eliminate false applications for the tax benefit.

During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long talked about his efforts to assist businesses in claiming the Employee Retention Tax Credit. He mentioned that neither he nor his colleagues had ever had a claim denied by the tax agency. This program, established by Congress and former President Trump in 2020, was designed to encourage businesses to continue paying their employees during the economic shutdown through a comprehensive stimulus bill.

He stated that they do not allow anyone to cheat the system and only assist those who truly qualify for a refund from the I.R.S. along with interest.

Donald Trump made a surprising announcement on his social media platform about his selection for a new leader at the I.R.S., which could have a significant impact on the agency. The Biden administration has invested a substantial amount of money to update the I.R.S. and enhance its tax collection activities, 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 administrations, was expected to serve in this role until 2027.

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