President Donald Trump has removed Billy Long from his position as commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, the White House confirmed Friday, just two months after the former Missouri congressman was confirmed by the Senate.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting commissioner until a permanent replacement is named. Long is expected to be nominated as U.S. ambassador to Iceland.
Long, a Republican and businessman who served in the House from 2011 to 2023, was nominated by Trump in December and confirmed in June. He becomes the fifth person to lead the IRS since Trump took office on January 20.
During his brief tenure, Long oversaw aggressive staff shakeups as the administration continued efforts to shrink the agency. He placed several senior officials on administrative leave and publicly spoke about the need to “purge” the IRS. He also made a habit of granting early Friday departures to staff. In an agency-wide email Thursday, he wrote, “Please enjoy a 70-minute early exit tomorrow. That way you’ll be rested for my 70th birthday on Monday!”
A former auctioneer, Long traveled extensively to IRS field offices and attended an industry conference of the National Auction Association during his time as commissioner.
Long had little formal experience in tax administration before taking the job. After leaving Congress in 2022, he worked for companies that helped businesses claim federal tax credits, including the Employee Retention Credit, which was suspended in 2023 due to widespread improper claims.
While in Congress, Long was a vocal supporter of Trump and repeatedly backed legislation to abolish the IRS. He cosponsored the Fair Tax Act, which sought to replace the federal income tax with a national retail sales tax.
