IRS Commissioner Billy Long Departs, Scott Bessent Serves Acting Commissioner

Billy Long, appointed IRS Commissioner in 2025, was removed from office less than two months after Senate confirmation and will serve as President Trump's ambassador to Iceland. His departure marks the seventh leadership change at the IRS in 2025, underscoring ongoing turmoil within the agency. Long's tenure coincided with President Trump's efforts to downsize and restructure the IRS, reversing funding and staffing increases enacted under President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Critics, including Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, have questioned Long's qualifications and warned that Trump's administration has weakened taxpayer services and weaponized IRS data. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been named acting commissioner and faces pressure to remove longstanding staff perceived as hostile to GOP donors. The IRS continues to struggle with funding challenges and leadership instability amid broader political battles over its role and operations.