Billy Long Sworn In as New IRS Commissioner/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Former Missouri congressman Billy Long was sworn in as the new IRS commissioner, despite his history of advocating to abolish the agency. His appointment comes amid severe staffing cuts and controversy over his past connections to tax schemes. Long promises to reshape IRS culture as it faces a challenging tax season ahead.
Billy Long IRS Appointment: Quick Looks
- Billy Long sworn in as IRS commissioner in Oval Office ceremony
- Former congressman once sponsored bill to eliminate IRS
- Long has no formal background in tax administration
- Staffing cuts and leadership turnover plague agency ahead of tax season
- Democrats raise concerns about Long’s ties to tax credit scheme
- Trump administration backs IRS restructuring and potential abolition
- Long aligns with Trump’s anti-tax agency platform
- Senate confirmed Long in a 53-44 vote last month
- Commerce Secretary touts tariffs to replace income taxes
- Long previously promoted false 2020 election fraud claims
Deep Look: Billy Long Sworn In as IRS Commissioner Despite Past Calls to Abolish Agency
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — In a twist emblematic of the Trump-era federal restructuring, former Missouri congressman Billy Long was ceremonially sworn in as the new commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service on Friday — a surprising role for a man who once publicly sought to eliminate the agency altogether.
The Oval Office swearing-in was administered by Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin, with President Donald Trump looking on. The moment marks a major shift in leadership for the IRS, which has faced years of turbulence, budget shrinkage, and a dramatic loss of personnel.
Long’s confirmation last month in a 53-44 Senate vote was not without controversy. Critics, particularly from the Democratic side, raised red flags about Long’s involvement in a pandemic-era tax credit distribution firm and questioned campaign contributions received shortly after Trump nominated him in December.
Despite this backdrop, Long now assumes control of an agency stretched thin by mass retirements and layoffs — largely a product of the Trump administration’s aggressive downsizing of federal departments via its Department of Government Efficiency initiative.
Long’s Pledge to Change IRS Culture
In a message addressed to IRS employees following his swearing-in, Long emphasized the importance of culture:
“In my first 90 days I plan to ask you, my employee partners, to help me develop a new culture here,” Long wrote. “I’m big on culture, and I’m anxious to develop one that makes your lives and the taxpayers’ lives better.”
While Long lacks experience in tax administration, his political tenure from 2011 to 2023 and previous career as an auctioneer and real estate broker have kept him in close contact with public sentiment about taxation. According to the IRS website, Long also hosted a radio talk show from 1999 to 2006, where criticism of the IRS was a frequent topic.
From IRS Opponent to Its Leader
During his time in Congress, Long sponsored legislation that called for the complete dissolution of the IRS. His appointment — and alignment with Trump’s anti-bureaucracy rhetoric — fits into a broader narrative of officials assuming leadership of agencies they once opposed.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick echoed Trump’s vision on Fox News earlier this year, saying:
“The goal is to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and let all the outsiders pay,” referencing Trump’s push for foreign tariffs to replace income taxes.
Trump has also publicly floated replacing the federal income tax system with revenue from tariffs — a position that aligns with his recent $4.5 trillion tax and spending bill, which includes deductions for tips, overtime, auto loans, and a variety of business incentives.
Ethical Questions and Past Allegations
Long’s path to confirmation was marred by his involvement with a firm tied to fraudulent employee retention tax credits issued during the pandemic. While he denied any wrongdoing before the Senate Finance Committee in May, Democrats continue to push for a criminal probe into potential loopholes and questionable financial contributions linked to his defunct 2022 Senate campaign.
These campaign donations, according to lawmakers, appeared shortly after Long’s nomination to lead the IRS — raising concerns of influence and timing.
Pattern Among Trump Appointees
Long joins a growing list of Trump appointees tasked with leading agencies they had previously criticized or pledged to eliminate.
- Linda McMahon, current Secretary of Education, has expressed intent to dismantle the department and reassign education responsibilities to the states.
- Kash Patel, now FBI Director, has suggested major restructuring of the agency.
- Rick Perry, during Trump’s first term, led the Energy Department — an agency he once vowed to abolish.
Long’s appointment reinforces Trump’s broader strategy of reducing federal oversight while pushing executive-aligned leaders into pivotal bureaucratic roles, regardless of their prior stance.
Looking Ahead for the IRS
As the IRS braces for the 2026 tax season amid record-low staffing, Long’s leadership will be put to the test. His challenge includes restoring internal morale, navigating legal scrutiny, and delivering taxpayer services under severe operational constraints.
Whether Long seeks to reform the agency from within or steer it toward dissolution remains unclear, but his ideological consistency with Trump’s policy vision suggests significant institutional changes could be on the horizon.
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