Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Danny Werfel has announced his resignation, effective Monday, as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office. This move will pave the way for a significant change in leadership at the agency.
Werfel, whose term was set to continue until 2027, made the decision to step down following Trump's nomination of former congressman Billy Long to lead the IRS. In a message to IRS employees, Werfel expressed his intention to support a smooth transition by leaving his position on January 20, 2025.
During his tenure, Werfel was appointed by President Joe Biden to oversee an $80 billion overhaul of the IRS, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. This initiative aimed to enhance enforcement efforts and improve services for taxpayers. However, Republicans have criticized the funding as excessive and managed to reduce the allocated amount by $20 billion.
Billy Long, a Republican from Missouri who served in the House of Representatives for 12 years, has been selected as Werfel's successor. Long, along with other Republicans, has previously co-sponsored bills advocating for the abolition of the IRS and the implementation of a national sales tax to replace the current federal income tax system.
