Key Points
- Billy Long, former Missouri congressman who once sought
to abolish the IRS, is sworn in as IRS commissioner. - Confirmed by Senate 53-44 despite Democratic concerns
over a fraudulent tax credit scheme and campaign contributions. - IRS faces major staffing cuts and leadership turnover,
risking next year’s tax filing season. - Long has no tax administration experience; served in
Congress from 2011 to 2023. - He plans to build a new workplace culture to improve
conditions for IRS employees and taxpayers. - Long aligned with Trump’s policies, supported $4.5
trillion in tax cuts, and promoted false 2020 election fraud claims. - Democrats have called for investigations into his
involvement with tax schemes and campaign finance. - Previous IRS leadership included four acting
commissioners with some controversies. - Long’s appointment reflects a pattern of Trump
appointees aiming to dismantle or reform their agencies.
Despite Democratic concerns regarding his
involvement with a tax credit scheme and political payments he got after
then-President-elect Donald Trump nominated him for the top IRS position in
December, Long was confirmed by the Senate last month in a 53-44 vote.
Following months of interim leaders and
significant staffing reductions that threatened to ruin the tax filing season
for the following year, Long was appointed commissioner.
The Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy through the Department of
Government Efficiency have resulted in the voluntary retirement or layoff of
tens of thousands of employees.
“In my first 90 days I plan to ask you, my
employee partners, to help me develop a new culture here,” Long wrote in a
message to IRS employees. “I’m big on culture, and I’m anxious to develop one
that makes your lives and the taxpayers’ lives better.”
The Republican supported legislation to abolish
the IRS during his time in Congress, which he served from 2011 to 2023. Long is
a real estate dealer and former auctioneer with no experience in tax
administration. According to his biography on the IRS website, he also hosted a
radio talk program from 1999 to 2006 “on which the IRS was always a hot
topic.”
In reference to tariffs placed on other nations,
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated on Fox News in February that Trump’s
“goal is to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and let all the outsiders
pay.”
Additionally, the president has suggested eliminating the federal
income tax and compensating with tariffs.
Approximately $4.5 trillion in tax cuts are
included in the nearly 900-page tax and spending plan that Trump signed earlier
this month. Along with other business-related reductions, they also offer new
tax deductions for tips, overtime, and auto loans.
For years, Long has been loyal to the Trump
party. He aired a 30-second ad in 2022 during a failed U.S. Senate campaign in
Missouri, falsely claiming that the 2020 election was “rigged” and
“stolen” from Trump—claims the president regularly makes.
Long collaborated with a company that disbursed
phony employee retention tax benefits from the state while running for the
Senate. In a May appearance before the Senate Finance Committee, he denied any
misconduct resulting from his participation in the scam.
A criminal inquiry into Long’s suspected
involvement in other tax loopholes has been demanded by Democrats. They have
also sent letters to Long and his affiliated companies outlining their concerns
over payments to Long’s now-defunct 2022 Senate campaign committee that they
claim were made at odd times.
Long is not alone among Trump’s appointees who
advocate destroying an agency they were tasked with overseeing.
The current education secretary, Linda McMahon,
has stated on multiple occasions that she is attempting to destroy her career
by dissolving the federal department. Director Kash Patel of the FBI has
suggested drastic changes to the 117-year-old organization. Additionally,
during his 2012 campaign for the GOP presidential nomination, Rick Perry,
Trump’s first-term energy secretary, advocated for the Energy Department’s
dissolution.
How have congressional lawmakers and IRS
employees reacted to Long’s appointment?
The Senate confirmed Long in a largely
party-line 53-44 vote. Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Mike Crapo (Finance
Committee chair), expressed support and optimism, with Crapo highlighting a
desire to partner with Long on modernization and improving taxpayer services.
Conversely, Democrats voiced strong opposition
due to Long’s past ties to a fraudulent tax credit scheme and his long history
of criticizing or seeking to dismantle the IRS. Sen. Ron Wyden called Long’s
confirmation “one corruption bombshell after another,” raising ethical and
integrity concerns. The confirmation process was marked by partisan debate over
Long’s suitability and history.
Following his confirmation, Long reached out to
IRS staff emphasizing culture change and partnership, stating in a message that
within his first 90 days he would seek employee input to help develop a new
organizational culture.
