Former U.S. Representative Billy Long Confirmed as IRS Commissioner
Long is the latest nominee approved in a straight party-line vote in the Senate.
The U.S. Senate today held a recorded vote to confirm one individual nominated by President Donald Trump to serve in the executive branch of government - specifically in the U.S. Department of the Treasury led by Secretary Scott Bessent since January 2025.
In a 53-44 vote, William “Billy” Long was confirmed as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) for a term expiring November 12, 2027. The position has been held by four separate acting officials since January 2025, when Daniel Werfel resigned after serving since March 2023.
All 53 Republicans approved Long’s nomination. 42 Democrats and two Independents voted in opposition. Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) did not vote.
Long was nominated to this position by Trump in December 2024. Previously, he held Missouri’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 2011 to January 2023. During his time in Congress, he sponsored legislation to abolish the IRS and to replace much of the tax code with a flat tax.
In 2010, Long ran for the 7th District after seven-term Republican incumbent Roy Blunt retired to successfully run for the U.S. Senate. An auctioneer who never held elected office before, he secured the Republican nomination with 36.6% in the eight-candidate primary which featured multiple members of the state legislature. He went on to hold the seat for his party with a 63.4-30.4 victory against Democrat Scott Eckersley. Set in the southwest portion of the state, the district covered Branson, Joplin and Springfield.
In 2022, Long once again tried to succeed Blunt in office. He competed in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat Blunt was leaving after two terms. This time though, he finished in fourth with 5.0% in the 21-candidate field. In 2023, he began working at Lifetime Advisors and Commerce Terrace Consulting. Notably, the firm pushed for businesses to apply for the Employee Retention Credit despite the IRS having stopped accepting new applications.