President Donald Trump has removed IRS Commissioner Billy Long from his post just two months after the Senate confirmed him, the White House confirmed Friday.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as interim commissioner until a replacement is named.
No reason was given for the swift change, though Long will now take on a new role as U.S. ambassador to Iceland.
“It is a honor to serve my friend President Trump… I am thrilled to answer his call to service and deeply committed to advancing his bold agenda,” Long said.
An Unconventional Pick
Long’s appointment raised eyebrows from the start. A real estate broker and auctioneer by trade, he served as a Missouri congressman from 2011–2023, where he supported legislation to abolish the IRS entirely.
His biography listed only a stint as a morning talk show host as IRS-related experience, noting the agency was “always a hot topic” on his program.
After leaving Congress, Long lobbied for the Employee Retention Credit, a pandemic-era program the IRS later warned was rife with fraud.
Senate Approval and Abrupt Exit
Despite skepticism, Long was confirmed by the Senate in a 53–44 vote.
Sources say he appeared unaware of his removal — just one day earlier, he’d emailed IRS staff telling them to leave work early Friday to celebrate his upcoming 70th birthday.
