Trump Removes IRS Commissioner — The Sixth Person to Lead Key Agency This Year

AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

The head of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is being replaced by President Donald Trump just two months into the job, according to a new report from The New York Times.

The Times first reported on Friday, citing four people familiar with the matter, that Billy Long is exiting his role leading the IRS. There have been six people who have taken the role of the head of the IRS since the beginning of the year.

Long, a former Missouri Republican congressman who supported legislation to abolish the IRS, is expected to be moved in an ambassador role, according to the new report, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will temporarily serve in the IRS role until a replacement is found.

There have been a total of six people acting in the role of leading the IRS since January: Danny Werfel, Douglas O’Donnell, Melanie Krause, Gary Shapley, Michael Faulkender, and Long. O’Donnell, Krause, Shapley, and Faulkender all served as acting commissioners. Long was confirmed in June and sworn into the position in July.

Long was confirmed in a 53-44 Senate vote amid a major staffing purge at the IRS under Trump. Long received pushback during his nomination process, particularly over his lack of tax administration experience. Long, who served in Congress from 2011-2023, once sponsored legislation to dump the IRS altogether.