Trump picks former Rep. Billy Long to head IRS

President-elect Trump said he would nominate former Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) to be IRS commissioner.

Why it matters: Trump and congressional conservatives have long had the IRS in their crosshairs, opposing Biden administration efforts to ramp up the tax agency’s funding and audit capability.

Catch up quick: Long, whose background is in real estate, spent 12 years in Congress representing Missouri before losing a 2022 Senate primary.

• “He is the consummate ‘people person,’ well respected on both sides of the aisle,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
• Long gained some notoriety in Congress for his skills as an auctioneer, once using the talent to drown out protesters during a hearing.

Zoom out: Long would replace the current commissioner, Danny Werfel, whose term runs through late 2027 and who had previously said he intended to stay.