Trump picks former Republican congressman Billy Long to lead IRS
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Former congressman Billy Long is a former management consultant and civil servant who had worked in both Democratic and Republican administrations.
PHOTO: AFP
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WASHINGTON – US President-elect Donald Trump said on Dec 4 that he would nominate Mr Billy Long, formerly a Republican congressman representing Missouri, to lead the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), effectively pledging to fire the tax collector’s current leader, a Biden appointee.
Trump’s choice, announced on his social media website, would shake up the IRS at a pivotal moment. The Biden administration has poured billions of dollars into modernising the agency and beefing up its tax collection efforts in an effort to improve customer service and crack down on tax cheats.
In 2022, President Joe Biden chose Mr Daniel Werfel, a former management consultant and civil servant who had worked in both Democratic and Republican administrations, to lead the overhaul of the IRS.
His term was set to last until 2027.
Republicans have deeply opposed the Biden administration’s vision for the tax agency, which included providing roughly US$80 billion (S$107.5 billion) in supplemental funding to the IRS over a decade. Republican lawmakers successfully pushed to cancel US$20 billion of that money, and are eyeing further cuts. The IRS is unpopular with the public, and Republicans have long attacked it as invasive and inept.
Additional funding for the IRS helps raise the money for the government by more effectively enforcing tax laws and requiring Americans to pay the taxes they owe, according to budget experts.
Mr Long, a former auctioneer, did not serve on the House tax-writing committee during his time in Congress. But he did put his auctioneering skills to use while in Washington.
During his first term, Trump called Mr Long onto stage to jokingly auction off the Stanley Cup as the St Louis Blues, a hockey team, visited the White House.
“I have known Billy since 2011. 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,” Trump said in a social media post.
Presidents do not typically select new IRS commissioners when they come into office, and the Senate will have to confirm Mr Long.
Mr Biden waited for the term of Trump’s first choice to lead the tax agency, Mr Charles P. Rettig, to end before selecting Mr Werfel.
“I have a vision of my last day on the job being Nov 12, 2027,” Mr Werfel said on a podcast for the publication Tax Notes in November. “My frame of mind on the IRS is that it’s non-partisan, is that our priorities can and should shift with new Treasury leadership.” NYTIMES
