Commissioner Billy Long leaving IRS for Iceland

President Trump has removed Billy Long as commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service in the latest sign of turmoil at the embattled agency.

Long was confirmed as IRS commissioner in June after a series of acting commissioners temporarily filled the job following the departure of Danny Werfel in January on Inauguration Day. Trump had named Long as the next IRS commissioner last December before his inauguration, despite the fact that Werfel had nearly two more years to go on his term. Trump plans to nominate Long to an ambassadorship, according to the New York Times, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting commissioner until a successor is named, according to Bloomberg News.

Long confirmed the departure with a post on X, saying he would become ambassador to Iceland. "It is a honor to serve my friend President Trump and I am excited to take on my new role as the ambassador to Iceland. I am thrilled to answer his call to service and deeply committed to advancing his bold agenda. Exciting times ahead!"

"I saw where former Superman actor Dean Cain says he's joining ICE so I got all fired up and thought I'd do the same," he jokingly added. "So I called @realDonaldTrump last night and told him I wanted to join ICE and I guess he thought I said Iceland? Oh well." 

Long had been a former Republican congressman and auctioneer from Missouri who had supported legislation to abolish the IRS while in Congress, where he served from 2011 to 2023. He had little tax training, but had promoted the fraud-plagued Employee Retention Credit program and so-called "tribal tax credits" after leaving Congress.

During a recent National Association of Enrolled Agents tax summit, he mistakenly said tax season wouldn't begin until President's Day next year, which the IRS later had to walk back.

He discussed his plans to implement the One Big Beautiful Bill Act during the conference and joked that it was named after him.

"I bet you all never thought you'd meet Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill in person, but here I am," he said.

On Friday, he reassured taxpayers that tax season would begin on time next year. "Rest assured tax filing season will start at the customary time around MLK Day," he posted. "I was in an hour long meeting today on implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill(y). These folks are pros and know what they are doing. Treasurer Sec. Bessent & Deputy Secretary Faulkender have the gears greased and are vigilant in presiding over an on time successful implementation. I can't say enough good about my employee-partners very dedicated hard working folks."

The Treasury confirmed Long's departure, thanking him for his "commitment to public service and the American people. His zeal and enthusiasm to bring a fresh perspective to the Federal Government was evident in both the House of Representatives and as part of the Trump Administration. A new candidate for Commissioner will be announced at the appropriate time."

Democrats pointed to the recent turmoil at the IRS. "From the minute Trump announced Billy Long as his IRS pick it was obvious this would end badly, but every Senate Republican voted to confirm his nomination anyway," said Senate Finance Committee ranking member Rob Wyden, D-Oregon, in a statement. "He didn't even last two months on the job. Let's not forget that there wasn't a vacancy at the time Trump announced Long's nomination. Danny Werfel, a skilled leader with fans among Democrats and Republicans, had years left on his term. In just a handful of months, Trump and his crew have already gutted taxpayer service, weaponized IRS data against innocent taxpayers and set us up for disaster when next year's filing season comes around."

House Ways and Means Committee ranking member Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, also weighed in on the latest development with Long, pointing out he was the sixth IRS leader this year.

"We don't even need more details on Trump's latest scuttle to know how damaging his presidency has been for the IRS," he said in a statement. "With nearly a new commissioner each month and weakened customer service from his mass firings, the rampant instability comes at the expense of all who rely on it. One thing is for sure: Secretary Bessent should focus on his own job before collecting more responsibility."

During his short tenure, Long put on administrative leave two high-ranking IRS officials: Holly Paz, the commissioner of Large Business and International Division, and Elizabeth Kastenberg, acting director of the Office of Professional Responsibility, which oversees tax professionals, according to Bloomberg Law. Paz had earlier worked with Lois Lerner, the former director of the IRS's Exempt Organizations unit, during the Tea Party targeting scandal in the Obama administration. Last year, she was named by Werfel to head a new unit focusing on tax compliance at pass-through businesses. 

The IRS has reportedly lost about half of its high-ranking officials since the beginning of the year and over 25% of the approximately 100,000 employees it had at the start of 2025, with many of them taking advantage of its deferred resignation programs.

Long's departure occurred only days before his 70th birthday. The Times reported that Long sent an email to IRS employees on Thursday giving them permission to leave work early on Friday afternoon. "Please enjoy a 70-minute early exit tomorrow," he wrote. "That way you'll be rested for my 70th birthday on Monday!"