President-elect Donald Trump announced on Dec. 4 that he will nominate former Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) as commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The position requires Senate confirmation. If confirmed, Long would succeed Danny Werfel.
IRS commissioners serve a five-year term.
Long represented Missouri’s 7th Congressional District between 2011 and 2023. He unsuccessfully ran for the Senate in 2022, losing the GOP primary to Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.).
Trump touted Long’s career in real estate and as an auctioneer.
“He is an extremely hard worker, and respected by all, especially by those who know him in Congress. Taxpayers and the wonderful employees of the IRS will love having Billy at the helm. He is the consummate ‘people person,’ well respected on both sides of the aisle,” Trump said.
Following Long’s nomination, people came out for and against it.
“I am very pleased with the new IRS Commissioner and believe this will correct a lot of the confusion and gridlock at the IRS and assist our clients and small businesses greatly,” Eric Stenson, a GOP donor and tax credit business executive, told The Epoch Times.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said she will vote against the nomination.
In Congress, Long was a staunch supporter of Trump, who says he has known Long since 2011.
During his first term, Trump selected lawyer Charles Rettig to lead the IRS.
The IRS has come under fire from Republicans and conservatives for obtaining more funding under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act in order for the agency to carry out more enforcement.
Next year, the GOP is expected to repeal parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, including green energy credits, and expand the 2017 Trump tax cuts, which are set to expire in 2025.
