President Donald Trump has moved swiftly to replace Billy Long, the newly confirmed commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, only two months after his Senate confirmation.
Long, a former Missouri House lawmaker, was confirmed in June by a narrow 53-44 vote, largely along party lines.
Democrats opposed his nomination due to his lack of experience in tax policy and concerns over his promotion of controversial pandemic-era tax credits, which critics said invited fraudulent claims.
According to reports, Long is set to be nominated for an ambassadorship following his departure.
Until a permanent replacement is confirmed, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting IRS commissioner.
Bessent, a close ally of Trump, is known for his loyalty and influence within the administration, as the Daily Mail reported.
His appointment signals a firm consolidation of control over the IRS, an agency that has seen significant turmoil under the current administration.
Long’s tenure as IRS chief was marked by tensions and conflict.
Reports suggest frequent clashes between Long and Bessent, with Long claiming he was required to seek approval from Bessent on nearly every decision. The move to replace Long appears to be a culmination of these internal power struggles.
Since the start of Trump’s administration, the IRS has seen a rapid turnover in leadership.
Long was the fifth person to hold the commissioner post, following four acting chiefs. This instability coincides with a significant loss of personnel, with nearly a quarter of the agency’s roughly 100,000 employees departing during this period.
A recent report from the National Taxpayer Advocate highlighted concerns about the IRS’s capacity, noting that the taxpayer services division is expected to lose 22 percent of its workforce.
Long, who previously advocated for abolishing the IRS during his time in Congress, helped the Trump administration push a purge of top IRS officials during his brief stint.
His leadership has coincided with ongoing controversies, including a lawsuit involving the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which watchdog groups say improperly sought taxpayer information during Elon Musk’s tenure.
Additionally, Long drew criticism last year when acting IRS commissioners quit amid pressure to share taxpayer data with Homeland Security immigration officials. This issue further underscored the agency’s internal turmoil and political pressure.
Just last month, Long announced that the IRS tax filing season would start later next year—a statement later clarified as premature by the agency.
The announcement comes days after Bessent said that he would not be appointed to serve as chairman of the Federal Reserve.
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Author: Anthony Gonzalez
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