President Trump has announced that Billy Long will be replaced as commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), with Long now appointed as U.S. ambassador to Iceland. \u201cIt is an honor to serve my friend President Trump, and I am excited to take on my new role,\u201d Long posted Friday on X. He also vowed to help advance Trump\u2019s \u201cbold agenda\u201d in his new diplomatic position.<\/p>\n
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting IRS commissioner until a permanent replacement is named. In a statement to FOX Business, a Treasury spokesperson praised Long\u2019s energy and commitment, saying his \u201czeal and enthusiasm to bring a fresh perspective\u201d had been evident throughout his time in both Congress and the Trump administration.<\/p>\n
Long, a former congressman from Missouri, had been sworn in as the 51st IRS commissioner on June 16 after a party-line 53\u201344 Senate vote. His term was set to run through November 2027. Ironically, Long had previously supported eliminating the IRS altogether, favoring a national sales tax system instead of income taxes.<\/p>\n
Despite his short tenure, Long attempted to reshape the agency\u2019s culture, regularly sending cheerful messages to staff, including emails that encouraged early departures on Fridays with subject lines like \u201cIt\u2019s Almost FriYay.\u201d While some employees appreciated his relaxed leadership style, critics\u2014most notably Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)\u2014accused Trump of installing \u201cincompetent\u201d officials and undermining the agency\u2019s effectiveness.<\/p>\n
Long\u2019s departure marks the fifth leadership change at the IRS in 2025. The agency has also faced significant internal upheaval, losing 25% of its workforce amid Trump-era budget cuts and buyouts, further straining one of the federal government\u2019s most vital institutions.<\/p>\n