IRS Chief Dismissed After Refusal to Share Tax Data
Reports indicate that the Trump administration dismissed IRS Chief Billy Long after he declined to provide tax information related to undocumented immigrants, according to the Washington Post.
Long was let go shortly after resisting demands from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for private taxpayer details connected to allegations of illegal immigration.
A transaction occurred in April involving the Treasury Department, the IRS’s parent agency, and the DHS. The IRS was already supplying taxpayer data to verify the addresses of approximately 40,000 individuals that the DHS suspects are residing unlawfully in the U.S. The Washington Post noted that DHS officials later mentioned they would eventually require tax information for about 7 million individuals believed to be illegal immigrants. Current estimates suggest around 11 million undocumented immigrants are in the country.
IRS privacy lawyers opposed the sharing of this data, arguing it was confidential. Following a query from the DHS, IRS officials communicated that they could only supply information for less than 3% of the 40,000 names given by immigration enforcement officers. Those individuals possessed individual taxpayer identification numbers handed out by the DHS.
The DHS issued a statement saying the agreement with the IRS “outlines the process of ensuring sensitive taxpayer information is protected while allowing law enforcement to effectively pursue criminal violations.”
In the wake of increased illegal immigration, the statement added that these measures help in streamlining the identification of serious offenders, ensuring their removal from voter rolls, and highlighting costs incurred by taxpayers, all while safeguarding American citizens’ data.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson also mentioned that the Trump administration is working closely to dismantle information barriers, aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from taking advantage of American taxpayers. She dismissed claims to the contrary as “absurd” and “completely false,” following the publication of the Washington Post article.
Treasury Secretary Scott Becent will act as the interim member of the IRS committee.
