Trump Removes IRS Commissioner Billy Long in Record-Short Tenure

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has removed Billy Long as IRS commissioner, a White House official confirmed Friday, marking the shortest tenure for an IRS chief since the position’s inception in 1862. Long’s dismissal comes barely two months after his Senate confirmation, adding to a period of significant turmoil within the nation’s tax agency.

While the specific reasons for Long’s abrupt exit were not immediately clear, the former U.S. Representative announced on social media platform X that President Trump had nominated him for an ambassadorship to Iceland. Long expressed enthusiasm for his new role, stating his commitment to advancing the President’s agenda.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will assume the role of acting IRS commissioner. Long’s ouster follows a period of considerable upheaval and staff reductions at the IRS, which has seen its workforce shrink from 103,000 in January 2025 to 77,000 by May 2025, largely due to the Department of Government Efficiency’s initiatives.

Long’s controversial appointment in June drew scrutiny due to his prior advocacy for abolishing the IRS and his lack of experience in tax administration. Democrats also raised concerns during his confirmation regarding his connections to firms involved in alleged fraudulent pandemic-era tax credits. His departure prevents him from implementing his stated plans for cultural reforms within the agency, which he outlined to employees shortly after his confirmation.

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