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Trump’s Controversial Choice: Ex-Congressman Who Hawked Tax Credits 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 in Congress for six terms, has been 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 capital

On Wednesday, President-elect Donald J. Trump announced his intention to nominate Billy Long, a former congressman from Missouri, to be in charge of the Internal Revenue Service. This move indicates his plan to remove the current IRS leader, who was appointed by Biden.

Following his loss in a Senate primary in 2022, Mr. Long promoted a tax credit designed for the pandemic era. Unfortunately, this tax credit has been plagued by fraud, resulting in the government spending billions more than anticipated. Lawmakers have attempted to stop the tax credit and the I.R.S. has temporarily halted processing claims in order to identify and eliminate fraudulent applications.

During a podcast interview in 2023, Mr. Long talked about how he assists businesses in claiming the Employee Retention Tax Credit. He mentioned that he and his team have not had any claims denied by the tax agency. This program 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 deceive anyone by allowing them to receive a refund they do not qualify for. We ensure that they are eligible to receive their own money back from the IRS with interest."

President Trump made a new selection for a key position at the IRS, which was revealed on his social media platform. This decision comes at a critical time as the Biden administration has invested significantly in updating the agency and strengthening its efforts to collect taxes, aiming to enhance customer experience and combat tax evasion.

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

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