Trump relieves IRS head; acting Treasury Secretary Bessent assumes duties temporarily
In a series of significant moves, the Trump administration has seen a series of changes at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The most recent development came when President Donald Trump removed Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Billy Long from his position. This change occurred days after Trump's new tariffs took effect and a month after he signed several tax cuts and changes to the tax code. Long is taking on a new role as the ambassador to Iceland.
Before being confirmed as commissioner, Long was a congressman from Missouri from 2011 until 2023 and an auctioneer before that. However, his tenure as commissioner was short-lived, ending after less than two months due to disagreements with the administration. His statements about delaying the tax filing season and ending IRS programs upset the administration and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is temporarily replacing Long.
The frequent changes in IRS leadership under the Trump administration were primarily due to a combination of lack of experience in tax policy among appointees, internal disagreements, and political pressure related to the administration's priorities. The agency saw unusually high turnover, including top civil servants resigning in protest against plans to share tax data with immigration enforcement (ICE), and widespread leadership instability that undermined IRS functionality.
The Trump administration’s push to roll back expansions made under the Biden era led to a workforce reduction of over 25%, further contributing to turmoil at the IRS. Scott Bessent, the new commissioner, has a long list of tasks including managing trade talks and helping with the search for the next Federal Reserve chair.
Meanwhile, the IRS has faced sweeping job cuts under the Trump administration as part of a push by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. Despite this, the task of collecting tariff revenues still falls to the Treasury Department and Customs and Border Protection.
Importers, including small and large U.S. businesses, have paid over $100 billion in customs duties to the U.S. government this year due to Trump's tariffs. This influx of tariff revenue is a significant part of the government's income, with billions of dollars more in tariff revenue every month due to Trump's new import taxes.
In other news, the White House is considering inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Alaska. Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin poses high stakes for the Ukraine war and Trump's legacy.
[1] Trump's IRS shake-up continues as another commissioner is ousted [2] Billy Long's departure from the IRS: A look at his career and the reasons behind his exit [3] The IRS under Trump: A look at the agency's struggles and the reasons behind them [4] The impact of Trump's IRS shake-up on the agency's workforce and operations [5] The controversy surrounding Billy Long's tenure as IRS commissioner
- The Trump administration's continuous reshuffling at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has led to another commissioner's removal, in this case, Billy Long, who is now set to become the ambassador to Iceland.
- Billy Long, former congressman and IRS commissioner, stepped down from his position due to disagreements with the administration, particularly over his proposals to delay the tax filing season and end IRS programs.
- The IRS under the Trump administration has faced numerous challenges, including high turnover, internal disagreements, political pressure, and a decrease in workforce, all contributing to instability and difficulties in fulfilling its duties, such as collecting taxes and managing tariff revenues.
