WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has removed former U.S. Rep. Billy Long as IRS commissioner less than two months after his confirmation, a White House official said Friday.
The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, did not give a reason for the dismissal. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting commissioner, the official said.
The Senate confirmed Long on a 53-44 vote despite Democrats’ concerns about the Republican’s past work for a firm that pitched a fraud-ridden coronavirus pandemic-era tax break and about campaign contributions he received after Trump nominated him.
Before Long’s confirmation, the IRS shuffled through four acting leaders, including one who resigned over a deal between the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security to share immigrants’ tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and another whose appointment led to a fight between Musk and Bessent.
While in Congress, where he served from 2011 to 2023, Long sponsored legislation to get rid of the IRS. A former auctioneer, Long has no background in tax administration.
I don’t think working until 70 is that unreasonable (as long as it’s by choice). The age you start receiving full Social Security benefits is 67 now, and putting a few extra years of work in, if you are able, enjoy it, and it gives you purpose, is a valid choice.
That being said, for high-level decision-makers like Congresspeople, they should be forced to retire right when that SSA kicks in. The IRS administrator is right on the line of “should be able to keep going” and “should be forced to retire”.