Trump dismisses IRS commissioner Billy Long following brief tenure of merely two months in position
Donald Trump has removed Billy Long from his role as IRS Commissioner after less than two months, officially to appoint him as ambassador to Iceland. The abrupt change comes amidst a series of leadership upheavals at the IRS this year, with Long being the sixth commissioner in 2025.
Long’s short, turbulent term included public misstatements and internal agency issues. For instance, there was a controversy over the start date for the 2026 tax filing season, and two top IRS officials were placed on leave. The administration did not explicitly state reasons beyond the ambassador appointment for Long’s removal.
The GOP-controlled Senate approved Long as IRS commissioner in a 53 to 44 vote along party lines on June 12, 2025. Prior to his appointment, Long was a U.S. representative for Missouri’s 7th Congressional district. He had also backed legislation that would have abolished the IRS and replaced income taxes with a national sales tax.
In his statement, Senator Wyden accused Trump and his administration of gutting taxpayer service, weaponizing IRS data, and setting up the agency for disaster during the upcoming filing season. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as the acting commissioner until a replacement is found.
It's worth noting that the IRS modernization program, which has been 30 years overdue and is reported to have faced a $15 billion overrun, is not directly related to Long's removal. However, the program's ongoing issues may have contributed to the broader instability at the IRS. Despite these challenges, the IRS has reported that tax collection is more efficient this year, with receipts up more than 5%.
Long had outlined his intent to reshape the IRS's culture to improve the lives of both employees and taxpayers during his swearing-in as commissioner. His statement about developing a new culture was made on June 16, 2025, when he was sworn in as the 51st commissioner of the IRS.
Long's term as commissioner was originally slated to run through Nov. 12, 2027, according to the IRS website. However, his tenure was shorter than that of the preceding four commissioners since the beginning of 2025.
In his new role as ambassador to Iceland, Long will represent the United States in Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland. The IRS did not immediately respond to FOX Business' request for comment regarding Long’s removal.
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/08/trump-names-billy-long-as-us-ambassador-to-iceland.html [2] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-irs-commissioner/trump-removes-irs-commissioner-billy-long-after-less-than-two-months-idUSKCN24N24F [3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/08/08/irs-commissioner-billy-long-removed-less-than-two-months-job-trump-names-him-us-ambassador-iceland/ [4] https://www.axios.com/2025/08/08/trump-removes-irs-commissioner-billy-long-amid-controversy-and-turmoil
- The removal of Billy Long as IRS Commissioner, despite the ongoing IRS modernization issues and an increase in revenue collection, may indicate a shift in government policy-and-legislation regarding taxation.
- Amidst the political upheaval surrounding the Internal Revenue Service, the appointment of Billy Long as ambassador to Iceland could signal a significant change in war-and-conflicts and general news policies, potentially impacting taxation and revenue on a global scale.
- The controversy surrounding Billy Long's short tenure as IRS Commissioner, marked by public misstatements and internal agency issues, raises questions about the role of politics in shaping revenue collection policies and the effectiveness of the IRS in carrying out its duties.
