Trump Reappoints Newly-Minted IRS Commissioner to Ambassadorship
President Trump has decided to replace Billy Long as the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), with the former congressman announcing on Friday that he will take on a new position.
“It is a privilege to serve my friend President Trump, and I am eager to embrace my new role as the ambassador to Iceland,” Long, who will now be the U.S. ambassador to Iceland, shared on X Friday afternoon. “I am excited to respond to his call to service and am fully dedicated to promoting his ambitious agenda. Exciting times are ahead!”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will act as the interim IRS commissioner until a permanent successor is appointed, an official source informed FOX Business on Friday.
The U.S. Treasury Department expressed gratitude towards Commissioner Long for his dedication to public service and the American populace,” a representative for the U.S. Treasury Department communicated to FOX Business via email. “His passion and eagerness to introduce a new viewpoint to the Federal Government were apparent during his time in the House of Representatives and as part of the Trump Administration. A new candidate for Commissioner will be revealed at the appropriate time.
Long, who previously served as a U.S. representative for Missouri’s 7th Congressional District, was inaugurated as the 51st IRS commissioner on June 16. Just a few days prior, on June 12, the GOP-controlled Senate ratified his appointment with a 53–44 party-line vote, as reported by the outlet.
His tenure as IRS commissioner was set to extend until November 12, 2027.
The former congressman took charge of an agency he had once aimed to dismantle, having earlier endorsed legislation to abolish the IRS and substitute income taxes with a national sales tax.
FOX highlighted that in a communication to IRS employees following his swearing-in, Long articulated his ambition to reshape the agency’s culture into one that “enhances the lives of both employees and taxpayers.”
“In my initial 90 days, I intend to solicit your input, my employee partners, to assist me in cultivating a new culture here,” Long stated.
Long became the fifth individual to oversee the IRS since the beginning of 2025, succeeding Michael Faulkender, who had been acting commissioner while also serving as deputy Treasury secretary.
On Tuesday, Trump announced that Bessent would not be considered for the role of Federal Reserve chair.
Unsurprisingly, Democrats responded unfavorably to the announcement.
Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released a strongly worded statement on Friday in reaction to Long’s reassignment.
“In just a few months, Trump and his team have already dismantled taxpayer services, weaponized IRS data against innocent taxpayers, and set us up for a catastrophe when next year’s filing season arrives,” Wyden remarked in a statement without providing any further details.
“This is what Trump does — he selects incompetent and unserious individuals for serious positions, then observes as the consequences accumulate,” he remarked.
Long, recognized for his friendly and approachable nature, would sometimes send emails to all IRS employees, allowing them to leave early on Fridays, as reported by a source familiar with the situation to CNN. A copy of one such email, which CNN acquired, revealed that he sent one on Thursday with the subject line: “It’s Almost FriYay.”
In the agency-wide communication, Long relayed advice from one of his fraternity brothers, who he mentioned is the leader of the parent company of Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, and discussed the concept of “establishing a new culture at the IRS.” As he had done in previous weeks, Long also informed employees that they could depart early in anticipation of the weekend.
The IRS has never witnessed such swift turnover in its upper management. The instability has also affected its workforce, with the agency losing 25% of its staff under Trump due to government reductions and mass buyouts, as indicated by a July report from the inspector general, CNN reported.