In a surprise move, former President Donald Trump has booted Billy Long from his position as the IRS’ 51st commissioner. This announcement comes only two months after Long was officially sworn in. Long’s short-lived appointment started in June and was scheduled to run until November 2027. The decision is indicative of Trump’s continued push to remake top IRS leadership at a time of unprecedented administrative upheaval.
Bessent, the treasury secretary, has been named as the state’s acting commissioner to replace Long. Bessent will take on this role, as a White House official confirmed to us. She will lead the agency that is tasked with collecting and enforcing our tax code, an incredibly consequential role.
Long expressed his sentiments about serving under Trump in a post on the social media platform X, stating it was an “honor to serve my friend president Trump.” Though his tenure was short, he has made a big splash. The unprecedented leadership turnover at the IRS under Trump’s administration already resulted in thousands of job losses within the agency.
The IRS is in the middle of a major … At the same time, NBC News just broke that Trump is going to nominate an ex-Goldman banker as ambassador to Iceland. This decision points to Trump’s sustained interest in foreign diplomatic affairs as he seeks to reshape leadership at home, too.
Long has shown enthusiasm for public service, previously stating, “I am excited to take on my new role as the ambassador to Iceland,” and expressing his commitment with, “I am thrilled to answer his call to service and deeply committed to advancing his bold agenda. Exciting times ahead!
This week, Elon Musk, known for these things and many more, became CEO of one such “Department of Government Efficiency.” In the meantime, he is running its day-to-day operations as its acting chief. This unusual placement within the administration serves to further highlight just how unusual Trump’s approach to governance and personnel assignment would be.
As the IRS now faces a wave of job cuts and new leadership, observers are anxious to see how these changes will impact the agency’s operations and policy direction going forward.