In a surprising move, President Donald Trump has dismissed former U.S. Representative Billy Long from his position as IRS Commissioner less than two months following his confirmation. This significant decision was confirmed by a White House official on Friday, who chose to remain anonymous as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The official did not provide any specific reasons for Long's abrupt removal.
Following Long's dismissal, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been appointed to serve as the acting IRS Commissioner. Long's confirmation had previously garnered attention in the Senate, where he was confirmed with a vote of 53-44, despite considerable concerns raised by Democrats. These concerns centered around Long's previous work with a firm that promoted a fraudulent coronavirus pandemic-era tax break and the campaign contributions he received after being nominated by Trump.
Before Long's appointment, the IRS had experienced significant instability, cycling through four acting leaders. This instability included the resignation of one acting leader due to a controversial agreement between the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security that allowed the sharing of immigrants' tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Another acting leader's appointment sparked a public dispute involving tech billionaire Elon Musk and Secretary Bessent.
During his tenure in Congress from 2011 to 2023, Long was known for sponsoring legislation aimed at abolishing the IRS. Notably, he lacks any formal background in tax administration, having previously worked as an auctioneer. After leaving Congress, Long pursued a failed campaign for the U.S. Senate and subsequently joined a firm involved in distributing the pandemic-era employee retention tax credit. This credit program was later shut down by former IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel due to findings of fraud.
In light of these developments, Democrats have called for a criminal investigation into Long's connections to various alleged tax credit loopholes. They assert that firms associated with Long misled investors, causing them to spend millions of dollars on fraudulent tax credits. This ongoing scrutiny highlights the complex issues surrounding tax administration and regulatory oversight during the pandemic.
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