Congress

Administration’s $11.9 billion plan eliminates up to 10 percent of agency workers, spurring Western lawmakers to question if savings are worth their cost.

Billy Long, a former congressman, is being considered to head the IRS at a time when the beleaguered agency is ‘at a crossroads,’ one senator said.

The bill was initially defeated on cloture after Democrats yanked support, but they reversed course after talks. The bill is likely to be passed by the body.

‘The operating system, or future updates ... to the system, could contain backdoors and vulnerabilities designed to facilitate espionage,’ their letter reads.

After a five-month wait, former Rep. Billy Long faces a hearing in the Senate amid scrutiny of his qualifications and the agency’s operations.