PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP REMOVED INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE COMMISSIONER, BILLY LONG, FROM THIS POSITION, AFTER LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER BEING CONFIRMED BY THE U.S. SENATE FOR THE POSITION, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS.
IT’S UNCLEAR WHY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MADE THE MOVE.
IN THE MEANTIME, TREASURY SECRETARY SCOTT BESSENT WILL SERVE AS ACTING COMMISSIONER.
BEFORE HIS CONFIRMATION TO RUN THE I R S, LONG SERVED AS A U.S. CONGRESSMAN FROM MISSOURI FOR 12 YEARS, FROM 2011 TO 2023.
ON HIS OFFICIAL X ACCOUNT, LONG SAID HE’S TAKING ON A NEW ROLE. HE SAID QUOTE: “IT IS A HONOR TO SERVE MY FRIEND PRESIDENT TRUMP AND I AM EXCITED TO TAKE ON MY NEW ROLE AS THE AMBASSADOR TO ICELAND. I AM THRILLED TO ANSWER HIS CALL TO SERVICE AND DEEPLY COMMITTED TO ADVANCING HIS BOLD AGENDA. EXCITING TIMES AHEAD!”
BEFORE LONG OFFICIALLY BECAME THE HEAD OF THE IRS IN JUNE, FOUR DIFFERENT ACTING COMMISSIONERS TEMPORARILY LED THE AGENCY.
THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY ALSO CUT ABOUT 25 PERCENT OF THE IRS’ STAFF IN THE MONTHS AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP STARTED HISSECOND TERM.
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE RANKING MEMBER RONALD WYDEN, A DEMOCRATIC SENATOR FROM OREGON, COMMENTED ON LONG’S DEPARTURE, ISSUING A STATEMENT SAYING QUOTE:
“IN JUST A HANDFUL OF MONTHS, TRUMP AND HIS CREW HAVE ALREADY GUTTED TAXPAYER SERVICE, WEAPONIZED IRS DATA AGAINST INNOCENT TAXPAYERS AND SET US UP FOR DISASTER WHEN NEXT YEAR’S FILING SEASON COMES AROUND. THIS IS WHAT TRUMP DOES — PICK INCOMPETENT, UNSERIOUS PEOPLE FOR SERIOUS JOBS, AND SIT BACK AS THE DAMAGE PILES UP,” WYDEN SAID, AS REPORTED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES.
WYDEN ALSO WRITING ON X: “LONG OUT = LONG OVERDUE.”
THE IRS HAS NOT COMMENTED ON LONG’S DEPARTURE.