Trump Ousts IRS Commissioner Billy Long After Two Months, Marking Seventh Leadership Change in Four Years

In an unexpected move, President Trump is set to replace Billy Long as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), less than two months after his confirmation in the position. Four sources familiar with the situation have confirmed this development to CNN.

The White House has reportedly selected Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to serve as the acting head of the IRS while the administration searches for a permanent successor. Two White House officials made this information available.

Trump is rumored to nominate Long, a former Republican congressman, for an ambassadorship, according to three sources familiar with the situation.

The IRS has experienced an uncommonly tumultuous period during Trump’s second term, with several leadership changes. The IRS declined to comment, referring queries to the Treasury Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This news was first reported by The New York Times.

Long, who is known for his outgoing and friendly personality, often sent emails to all IRS employees inviting early Friday departures. On Thursday, he sent an email with the subject line “It’s Almost FriYay,” encouraging staff to leave early ahead of his 70th birthday on Monday, which falls during the week. He signed off as “Call Me Billy.”

Since Trump’s 2024 election victory, seven different individuals have led the embattled agency. This level of rapid turnover at the commissioner level is unprecedented in IRS history. Furthermore, the agency has also faced significant internal instability, losing 25% of its workforce under Trump due to government cuts and mass buyouts, according to a July inspector general report.

Danny Werfel, who was appointed and Senate-confirmed by Biden, resigned when Trump took office, even though his statutory five-year term hadn’t expired. He was succeeded as acting commissioner by Doug O’Donnell, a career official who retired abruptly in February following policy disagreements with Trump appointees. Then came Melanie Krause, another career official, who resigned in April after Trump allies pushed through a deal to share sensitive taxpayer data with immigration agencies.

Trump then announced that the next acting commissioner would be Gary Shapley, a career IRS agent known for publicly accusing the Justice Department of showing leniency towards Hunter Biden during his tax investigation. However, Shapley’s appointment was opposed by Bessent, and he was removed from the position within days.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender then took over as acting commissioner before the GOP-run Senate confirmed Long in June.