President-elect Trump announced the nomination of former Missouri Rep. Billy Long to serve as commissioner of the IRS in his new administration. Trump praised Long as an extremely hard worker with 32 years of experience running his own businesses in Real Estate and as an Auctioneer. Additionally, Long served in Congress for 12 years and was seen as a representative who signed the front of a check, highlighting his background in tax advising. Trump expressed confidence that taxpayers and IRS employees would appreciate Long’s leadership due to his reputation as a people person respected on both sides of the aisle. Congratulations poured in for Long following the announcement.
Following Long’s nomination, Trump named former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler to head the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA is responsible for providing small businesses with access to resources such as loans, government contracts, and business counseling. Trump emphasized the importance of small businesses in the economy and believed Loeffler’s experience in business and Washington could help reduce red tape and unleash opportunities for growth and innovation. Loeffler’s background in financial services and technology, as well as her success in building a Fortune 500 company with her husband Jeff, were highlighted as qualifications for the role.
Trump praised Loeffler as a tremendous fighter and emphasized her role as a co-chair of his inaugural committee and an ally for a long time. He also mentioned her success in helping him secure the “Big Election Win” in Georgia. Prior to her time in the U.S. Senate, Loeffler had a 25-year career in financial services and technology, where she played a crucial role in the significant growth of a company from 100 employees to over 10,000 as an Executive VP. The appointment of Loeffler marked Trump’s focus on ensuring the accountability of the SBA to taxpayers by cracking down on waste, fraud, and regulatory overreach.
In the early years of the Trump administration, the SBA was led by Linda McMahon, former CEO of WWE, who resigned in 2019 to become the secretary of education. McMahon’s tenure at the SBA was characterized by efforts to support small businesses and provide them with the necessary resources to thrive. Trump’s nomination of Long and Loeffler to key roles within his administration reflected his commitment to appointing individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to drive economic growth and support small businesses across the country.
Overall, Trump’s strategy in nominating Long to the IRS and Loeffler to the SBA was to bring individuals with significant experience in business, finance, and government together to lead crucial agencies responsible for tax administration and small business support. The president-elect highlighted the importance of having leaders with practical knowledge and a track record of success to address the challenges faced by taxpayers, IRS employees, and small businesses. The nominations were met with praise from supporters and signaled Trump’s intention to prioritize economic growth and accountability in his administration.
