Billy Long Removed as IRS Commissioner After Record-Short Tenure
- Posted on August 9, 2025
- International Affairs
- By Arijit Dutta
- 55 Views
President Trump has removed Billy Long as IRS commissioner less than two months after his confirmation, making him the shortest-serving commissioner in U.S. history. Long, a former congressman and auctioneer with no tax administration background, will become ambassador to Iceland. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent takes over as acting commissioner.
Former U.S. Representative Billy Long has been dismissed from his role as Internal Revenue Service commissioner by President Donald Trump, making him the shortest-serving confirmed commissioner in the agency’s history. His tenure lasted less than two months, ending before he could complete the 90-day milestone he had outlined for his initial plans.
Long, confirmed by the Senate in June 2025, announced that Trump had appointed him as the next U.S. ambassador to Iceland. In a statement, he called it “an honor” to serve the president and pledged to advance Trump’s agenda in his new diplomatic role.
No formal reason was given for his removal, but the IRS has faced significant upheaval during Trump’s second term. Since January, the agency has cycled through four acting leaders, lost a quarter of its staff, and been under scrutiny from the Department of Government Efficiency, a body created to cut waste, fraud, and abuse.
Long’s selection had raised eyebrows, given his lack of tax administration experience and his history of sponsoring legislation to abolish the IRS during his time in Congress. He also faced criticism for ties to a firm that promoted a pandemic-era tax credit later deemed fraudulent.
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Despite this, Long entered the post with plans to reshape the agency’s workplace culture, telling staff he wanted to make their jobs—and taxpayers’ experiences—better. However, his swift reassignment leaves those goals unrealized. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will now serve as acting commissioner while a permanent replacement is sought.
