Trump dismisses Billy Long from the position of IRS commissioner, setting a record for the briefest duration in the role
Billy Long's Brief Tenure as IRS Commissioner and the Turmoil at the IRS
Billy Long's tenure as the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) during President Trump's second term was remarkably short, lasting less than two months. Trump unexpectedly removed Long, and he was soon nominated as ambassador to Iceland, making him the shortest-serving confirmed IRS commissioner since the agency was founded in 1862 [1][2].
The IRS, during this period, experienced unprecedented leadership turnover. In 2025 alone, Long was the sixth IRS Commissioner, despite the Commissioner’s position being a five-year appointment [2]. This rapid succession of leaders is highly unusual for the IRS, indicating instability within the agency’s leadership under Trump's administration [2].
Staff Reductions and Operational Challenges
One of the factors contributing to this turmoil was the mass staff reductions at the IRS. The IRS workforce was reduced from 103,000 workers in January to 77,000 workers in May 2025, due to the Department of Government Efficiency's burrowing in and the Trump administration's efforts to shrink the federal bureaucracy [3]. This reduction may have compounded organizational challenges within the IRS.
Personnel Changes and Uncertainty
Publicly, there was no clear official explanation for Long’s removal. It was mainly described through his own announcement of a new ambassadorial nomination and brief media reports [1][3]. The acting IRS commissioner before Long resigned over a deal between the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security to share immigrants' tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement [2]. Another acting IRS commissioner's appointment led to a fight between former Trump adviser Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin [2].
Investigations and Controversies
Democrats called for a criminal investigation into Long's connections to other alleged tax credit loopholes [2]. Firms connected to Long are alleged to have duped investors into spending millions of dollars on fake tax credits [2]. Additionally, concerns about Long's past work for a firm involved in a fraudulent coronavirus pandemic-era tax break and campaign contributions he received after Trump nominated him led to the Senate confirming him despite reservations [2].
In conclusion, the short tenure of Billy Long was primarily due to Trump’s abrupt personnel decision to remove and reassign him, contributing to a year of unprecedented IRS leadership instability and operational turmoil [1][2][3]. The IRS's challenges during this time were further compounded by staff reductions and controversies surrounding Long and other IRS leaders.
Policy and legislation regarding the IRS faced significant complications during this period, as the rapid succession of IRS commissioners, including Billy Long, created a climate of uncertainty and instability in policy-making. This political turmoil extended beyond the IRS, as controversies surrounding Long's connections and past work impacted general news and public discourse. [1][2][3]
The turmoil at the IRS, aggravated by staff reductions and investigations into commissioners' activities, raised questions about the effectiveness of the agency's operations and compliance with established laws, further blurring the lines between politics and general news. [1][2][3]
