President Donald Trump has reportedly removed Billy Long as Internal Revenue Service commissioner just two months after his Senate confirmation. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting IRS commissioner while the administration searches for a permanent replacement.
What Happened: Long, a former Republican congressman, is expected to receive an ambassadorial nomination to Iceland, sources told CNN. “I’m excited to take on my new role as the ambassador to Iceland,” Long posted on X, without addressing his IRS departure.
The leadership change marks unprecedented turmoil for the tax agency. Seven different officials have led the IRS since Trump’s 2024 election victory, representing the highest commissioner-level turnover in agency history. The rapid succession began when former President Joe Biden‘s appointee, Danny Werfel, resigned despite having three years remaining on his statutory five-year term.
Acting commissioner Doug O’Donnell retired in February after policy clashes with Trump appointees. Melanie Krause resigned in April following pressure to share taxpayer data with immigration agencies. Gary Shapley, briefly appointed as acting commissioner, was ousted within days after Bessent opposed his selection.
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Why It Matters: Long’s removal comes amid broader IRS budget pressures. A House Appropriations subcommittee approved legislation cutting IRS funding by $2.8 billion to $9.5 billion for fiscal 2026, representing a 20% reduction. The deepest cuts target enforcement activities, dropping from $5.4 billion to $3 billion.
The agency has lost 25% of its workforce under Trump through government cuts and buyouts, according to inspector general reports. Recent controversies include Department of Homeland Security access to taxpayer records for immigration enforcement, drawing privacy concerns from lawmakers including Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA).
Trump also moved to eliminate the IRS Direct File program, which allowed free online tax filing without private companies. The program served 32 million eligible users across 25 states, with 90% of users rating their experience as excellent or above average.
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