On Friday, IRS Commissioner Charles P. Rettig, a former six-term congressman from Missouri, was shown the door. Reactions to this decision led to media scrutiny over intelligence sharing agreements established between the Department of Homeland Security and the Treasury Department. Long’s ouster is said to be related to his unwillingness to implement a controversial data-sharing agreement signed last April. This agreement would lead to better information sharing and stop the flow of taxpayer-funded benefits to undocumented immigrants.
While serving as IRS Commissioner, Long strongly advocated that the agency would never compromise taxpayer confidentiality. He assured them that it would only disclose information as actually required by law to the Treasury. This substantive position is consistent with longstanding opposition from industry, state, and academic experts to protect the privacy of taxpayer data. The Treasury Department, which oversees the IRS, is aiming high. It’s urging the city to reach a memorandum of understanding with Homeland Security to promote voluntary tax compliance among undocumented immigrants.
Long shared the news on X, formerly Twitter, of his acceptance of the new title of U.S. Ambassador to Iceland. His decision to make this move shows his deep commitment to public service. He views his new role as an opportunity to better serve President Donald Trump. It’s truly a privilege to serve my good friend President Trump,” he added. I am thrilled to assume the responsibility of acting as ambassador to Iceland in this new capacity.
That data-sharing agreement has raised a lot of eyebrows. This is particularly so after the news about the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy’s shocking findings. The think tank reported that undocumented immigrants contributed approximately $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022, with $59.4 billion directed to the federal government. These stated tax contributions underwrite essential programs that Americans rely on every day, like Social Security and Medicare.
With Congressman Billy Long’s dismissal of the bill now, it’s worth exploring what lies behind Long’s resistance to this commonsense data-sharing initiative. According to people close to Long, he was adamant about protecting taxpayer data. His actions were interpreted by some as a lack of alignment with the administration’s mission to prevent illegal immigration from gaining access to taxpayer-funded benefits.
“The Trump administration is working in lockstep to eliminate information silos and to prevent illegal aliens from taking advantage of benefits meant for hardworking American taxpayers.” – Johnson
Long comedically thanked Dean Cain for always providing the inspiration for his buffoonery. So when Cain made the unusual decision to join the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) at 59 years of age, it piqued Long’s interest. As he tweeted, “I was so excited to hear that former Superman actor Dean Cain is coming on board with ICE. That got me all hot and bothered, and I figured I should do the same!” Just last night, I was tweeting @realDonaldTrump that I wanted to be a part of ICE. And somehow he completely misheard me and thought I was talking about Iceland! Oh well.
Long’s excitement about public service is part of a larger phenomenon among right-wing influencers who push for hardline immigration controls. His appointment as ambassador comes at a time when the Trump administration continues to shape its approach toward immigration and taxation.