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.
The other post on this topic stated that he was removed after approving an audit against the Epstein estate. Hmm I wonder why Trump would have an issue with that.
Perhaps he gave the wrong opinion on tariffs being taxes (the wrong kind) and the incoming finances being far below what is needed.
This certified pos wasn’t crooked enough for the administration 😳
One day before his removal, Long sent all IRS employees an email saying, “Please enjoy a 70-minute early exit tomorrow. That way you’ll be rested for my 70th birthday on Monday,” The New York Times reported.
Literally, dude was being too chill and nice to his staffers.
70…. 70 fucking years old. Guy should be retired but instead the government is being stuffed full of more boomers who need to get the hell out of the way.
Dude is a pos, and old, but ageism like all bigotry is always wrong.
Nah ageism has its place when it’s towards a government that better resembles a fucking retirement home than anything else. Also religious bigotry against Mormons and Seventh Day Adventist is always welcome.
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”.
Well, he’s being retired now, I guess.
