Trump intends to dismiss the IRS chief once more.
Trump Removes Billy Long as IRS Commissioner, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Takes Over
In a surprising turn of events, US President Donald Trump has removed Billy Long as the head of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), just two months into his tenure. Long, a six-term U.S. congressman from Missouri, had been appointed to the role in June 2025.
Prior to his appointment as IRS chief, Long worked as a tax and business consultant, promoting tax credits such as the Employee Retention Tax Credit. His tax policy history, however, attracted scrutiny during his nomination process.
Long's removal from the IRS has exacerbated the turmoil in the agency's management, which has persisted since Donald Trump took office. This marks the sixth change in IRS leadership this year.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has taken over as the acting IRS commissioner. Bessent is expected to oversee the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back the IRS expansions made under the Biden administration and manage regulations related to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), enacted in July 2025.
During his brief tenure, Long clashed with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. No specific details about the sensational blunders made by Long during his tenure were mentioned in the reports. However, it is known that Long made a premature statement about the start of the IRS's crucial tax filing season, which was later described as premature by the IRS.
Long is described as a sociable and colorful personality. He had previously advocated for the complete abolition of the IRS in Congress. Despite his controversial tenure, Long remains a staunch ally of Trump.
The sources for the report are a high-ranking White House official and another person familiar with the matter, both wishing to remain anonymous. It is unclear who the next permanent commissioner will be, as Trump has not yet announced a nominee.
In a related development, Trump is reportedly nominating Billy Long for an ambassadorial post. However, the nomination has not been confirmed yet.
The replacement of Billy Long as IRS head was reported by The Washington Post. Danny Werfel, who was previously the chief of the agency, was appointed by former President Joe Biden for a five-year term in 2022 and was removed from office by Trump.
[1] The Washington Post, "Trump Removes Billy Long as IRS Commissioner", August 8, 2025. [2] The New York Times, "Billy Long's Controversial Tenure as IRS Commissioner Ends", August 8, 2025. [3] Politico, "Trump's New IRS Chief Billy Long Faces Scrutiny", July 1, 2025.
- The policy changes and legislative agenda of the Trump administration, particularly in the sphere of policy-and-legislation related to taxation and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), will be overseen by new acting IRS Commissioner, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, following the recent removal of Billy Long from his position.
- As the robust drama within the IRS's management persists, with the ongoing changes in leadership, the politics surrounding Donald Trump's administration continue to spark general news debates, with the removal of Billy Long and the possibilities of his future appointments being a notable topic.
