Former Missouri Rep. Billy Long, who finally took over as Internal Revenue Service commissioner in June, is no longer leading the federal tax agency. He was removed this afternoon by the Trump Administration.
UPDATE, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025: In an exclusive report published today, The Washington Post says the IRS and White House clashed over immigrants’ data before Long was ousted. The tax agency told the Trump administration that it couldn’t release some information on taxpayers suspected of being here illegally.
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any crazier at the Internal Revenue Service during Donald Trump’s second term, they did.
Former U.S. Rep. Billy Long this afternoon was removed as IRS Commissioner, a job for which he was confirmed just about two months ago.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly will act as IRS chief until a replacement is installed.
“Treasury thanks Commissioner Long for his commitment to public service and the American people,” a Treasury spokesperson said in a statement. “His zeal and enthusiasm to bring a fresh perspective to the Federal Government was evident in both the House of Representatives and as part of the Trump Administration. A new candidate for Commissioner will be announced at the appropriate time.”
Long, an early supporter of Trump, however, still has a job in the administration. The now ex IRS executive posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he is “excited to take on my new role as the ambassador to Iceland. … Exciting times ahead!”
Long questions from the get-go: Long’s IRS connection already has been exciting.
As expected in today’s politicized Washington, D.C., environment, Long’s nomination was met with skepticism. But questions about the choice went beyond politics.
Most of the tax community viewed Long as a surprising selection to lead Uncle Sam’s tax collection operation.
Questions were raised about whether Long could handle the demand of leading the IRS. The former auctioneer had no tax education, training, or professional experience.
During his term as U.S. Representative, Long sponsored legislation to get rid of the IRS.
More disquieting for many on and off Capitol Hill was Long’s post-Congressional work with a firm that promoted dubious claims for the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), the fraud-ridden coronavirus pandemic-era tax break.
Still, Long finally was confirmed by the Senate 53-44 on June 12 and officially began his duties a few days later.
The Missouri Republican’s departure makes him the shortest-tenured IRS commissioner confirmed by the Senate since the position was created in 1862.
Long gone, turmoil continues: And things no doubt will continue to be exciting at the IRS even after Long is gone.
Already this year, the tax agency has seen a steady parade of leadership changes. It also is coping with what many have termed a gutting of its workforce, just as the remaining staff must deal with the changes, some of them applicable to 2025 tax returns, created by the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
More than 25,000 people have left the IRS, primarily due to actions by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Elon Musk created and Trump sanctioned quasi-government agency that slashed resources and personnel across most federal government departments.
The IRS now has roughly a quarter of the staff it had when Trump began his second term. More staff are expected to leave this year under a reduction in force effort.
On the management side, several acting commissioners quit earlier this year in protest of the Trump administration’s drastic changes to taxpayer privacy protections, notably the sharing of IRS information on individuals with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Another acting commissioners, an IRS agent Gary Shapley, was replaced within just a few days after Bessent complained that Shapley was installed by Musk without any prior input from the Treasury Secretary.
As for Long personally, even though he’ll no longer be at the IRS’ Constitution Avenue headquarters, he still is under scrutiny from Senate Democrats.
“Billy Long left Congress a few years ago and went straight into the tax fraud industry, his only real experience in tax before his nomination,” said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. “My investigators have obtained alarming information pertaining to Long’s conduct at the IRS that we have begun to investigate, and that process will continue regardless of whether Trump stashes Long away in some foreign embassy.”
You also might find these items of interest:
- IRS commissioner to resign Jan. 20 as Trump takes over
- Rapid-fire IRS leadership changes during tax filing week
- Tax season 2026 to start in mid-February, without Direct File
Advertisements
🌟 Search Amazon Tax Products 🌟
The text link above is an affiliate ad. If you click through and then buy a product, I receive a commission.
