Billy Long confirmed as IRS commissioner

The Senate confirmed Billy Long, a former Republican congressman from Missouri, as the new Internal Revenue Service commissioner after a series of acting commissioners have cycled through the role amid staffing and budget cuts at the agency.

Long was confirmed Thursday by a vote of 53-44 to lead the IRS. Long had once sponsored legislation to abolish the IRS while he served in Congress. Last month, he went through a contentious confirmation hearing in which Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee questioned him about his promotion of dubious Employee Retention Credits and so-called "tribal tax credits" after leaving Congress, where he served from 2011 to 2023. 

Ahead of the Senate vote Thursday, Senate Finance Committee rankling member Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, blasted Long's record. "Fake tax credits," he said. "Scam tax advice. Shadowy political donations that went straight in his pocket. Promises of personal favors. No-show jobs with high-paying federal salaries. That's quite a rap-sheet." On Wednesday, Wyden's staff also accused Long of being involved in a bribery scheme involving a health care company in his former congressional district.

President Trump announced in December he planned to name Long as the next IRS commissioner, even though then-commissioner Danny Werfel's term wasn't scheduled to end until November 2027. Since then, the role has been filled by four acting commissioners who have faced pressures to accept drastic staff cuts at the agency and share taxpayer data with immigration authorities.

Despite the objections from Democrats, Long received support from Republicans in the Senate as well as the House.

"I would like to extend my congratulations to my good friend, fellow Missourian, and former colleague, Billy Long, on his confirmation as IRS commissioner," said House Ways and Means committee chairman Jason Smith, R-Missouri. "Commissioner Long has always been a fighter for the American people, and during his time in public service, he saw firsthand the widespread failures and corruption that have plagued the IRS. I am confident Commissioner Long will bring his Missouri 'Show Me State' attitude to the agency — demanding results, transparency and accountability from day one."

One of Long's tasks will be overseeing implementation of the massive tax legislation known as the One Big Beautiful Bill that was passed by the House last month and is now in the hands of the Senate.