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Wafric News | May 4, 2025


Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is navigating deep internal turmoil after going through four acting commissioners in just one year, while President Donald Trump's controversial pick for the agency's top job remains in limbo.

Trump has tapped Billy Long, a former Missouri congressman and auctioneer turned tax adviser, to become the next full-time IRS Commissioner. The announcement, made back in December, was met with a mix of optimism from Trump allies and strong pushback from Senate Democrats and ethics experts.

Long, a staunch conservative with a history of pushing to abolish the IRS altogether, is known for his colorful political style and close ties to the Trump base. Supporters say he brings strong Capitol Hill connections and a business-friendly mindset to the role.

But Long’s nomination is now under scrutiny. Critics are questioning his involvement with a pandemic-era tax credit program that has been plagued by fraud, and raising concerns over recent donations from individuals with business before the IRS — funds used to repay a personal loan from Long’s failed 2022 Senate campaign.

IRS ‘Rudderless’ as Confirmation Drags On

With Long still awaiting a Senate confirmation hearing expected later this month, insiders say the delay has left the IRS without clear direction at a time when trust in the agency is fragile.

“It’s a pivotal moment. Right now, the IRS is rudderless,” said Kathy Pakenham, a top tax attorney. “There’s fear inside the agency. Staff don’t know what the future holds.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently stepped in by appointing Michael Faulkender, a department deputy, as acting commissioner. This makes Faulkender the fourth person to serve in that role under Trump — a striking level of instability for one of the U.S. government’s most critical institutions.

In his first internal memo, Faulkender said he would be overseeing IRS operations until a permanent commissioner is confirmed.

A Colorful Past, Controversial Present

Billy Long’s career has been anything but conventional. From his early days as a professional auctioneer in Missouri to over a decade in Congress, Long built a reputation as a plainspoken conservative with a knack for grabbing headlines. He left Capitol Hill in 2023 and quickly transitioned into work as a tax and business adviser.

But it’s that post-Congress work that is now fueling doubts about his IRS appointment.

Long actively promoted the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) — a COVID-era relief program that has since become a magnet for fraudulent claims. While he hasn’t been accused of wrongdoing, Long was outspoken in calling the program a “no-brainer” and suggested that “virtually everyone qualifies.”

Some Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, argue that his deep ties to the flawed program make him unfit to lead the very agency tasked with managing it.

“Your most significant tax experience has been your recent work promoting a fraud-ridden pandemic-era tax credit,” Warren wrote in a recent letter.

Ethics Concerns and Campaign Debt Repayments

Adding to the controversy are questions over campaign finance. Federal filings show Long’s old Senate campaign received a surge of contributions — $137,000 in early 2025, far outpacing previous donations. Much of this money came from individuals with IRS interests, including those involved in tax advisory work.

That money was then used to repay Long $130,000 for a personal loan he made to his campaign.

While legal, ethics watchdogs say the timing and source of the donations raise serious concerns.

“It’s highly unusual,” said Michael Beckel from the watchdog group Issue One. “Most failed candidates don’t suddenly see a wave of support years later — especially not from people with business before a federal agency.”

Ties to Dubious ‘Tribal Tax Credits’ Also Under Fire

Long is also facing scrutiny for his past financial ties to companies promoting so-called tribal tax credits — little-understood tax schemes that Democratic senators argue are fraudulent.

One such company, White River Energy Corp., has defended its practices but is also among the entities that contributed to Long’s campaign debt payoff. Long earned over $5,000 in referral fees from White River, according to his financial disclosures.

Senators Ron Wyden and Catherine Cortez Masto have called on the IRS to investigate the companies and are demanding Long’s nomination be withdrawn.

“It’s deeply disturbing that someone tied to these schemes could be tapped to run the IRS,” the senators said in a joint statement.

Supporters See an Opportunity for a Reset

Despite the backlash, some voices in the business community are hopeful that Long — if confirmed — could bring a pragmatic, pro-business perspective to the IRS, especially in clearing the ERTC backlog that’s left many small businesses in limbo.

“We just want a functional IRS,” said Noah Kaplan, a small business owner who traveled to Washington to lobby for faster ERTC payments. “If Billy Long can make that happen, we’re behind him.”

Still, the road to confirmation is uncertain. The Senate Finance Committee has yet to schedule a hearing, and political tensions around Long’s past are mounting.

As the IRS continues to reel from leadership turnover and internal strife, the question remains: is Billy Long the right person to steer the agency back on course — or a political gamble too risky to take?



By WafricNews Desk.

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