On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced the nomination of former Republican federal Congressman Billy Long from Missouri as the new commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in his upcoming administration.
Trump made the announcement on his social media platform Truth Social, stating, “I am pleased to announce the appointment of the great former Congressman from Missouri, Billy Long, as the Commissioner of the IRS.”
“Bill has 32 years of experience in real estate management and is also one of the leading auctioneers in the United States,” Trump continued in his statement.
Long represented Missouri’s 7th Congressional District in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2023 but chose not to seek re-election in 2022. Instead, he ran for the seat previously held by retiring Republican Senator Roy Blunt, but he lost in the primaries to former state attorney general Eric Schmitt. Schmitt later defeated his Democratic opponent and won the general election.
In his statement on Wednesday, Trump also praised the former congressman as someone who “works very hard, is respected by everyone, especially those who know him in Congress.”
“Taxpayers and the dedicated employees of the IRS will love having Billy at the helm. He is a perfect ‘people person’ and respected by both parties. Congratulations, Billy!”
Trump’s statement indicates his intention to dismiss the current IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, whom President Biden appointed in 2022 for a five-year term. If Long’s nomination by Trump receives confirmation from the Senate, Werfel’s term will be significantly shortened.