Press Releases

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), who serves on the House Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee, issued the following statement today on Donald Trump’s announcement that he would nominate former Rep. Billy Long to lead the IRS, with over three years remaining in IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel’s term:

“Replacing Commissioner Werfel with over three years remaining in his term is a terrible mistake. He has done an excellent job rebuilding the IRS, boosting customer service and enhancing enforcement aimed at wealthy tax evaders. Removing him will clearly signal Trump’s intention to make the agency less responsive to the American people, while giving a green light to wealthy tax cheats to evade their fair share of the tax burden.

“Trump's nominee has clearly stated that he wants to abolish the IRS. His only experience with tax policy appears to be advising businesses to take advantage of a fraud riddled program, and supporting a national sales tax that would raise taxes on the middle class while cutting them on the rich. 

“The change Trump proposes in IRS leadership would be a gift to tax cheats and a blow to anyone who believes it is important to rein in deficits.”