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President Trump Removes IRS Commissioner, Appoints Acting Head

President Trump Removes IRS Commissioner, Appoints Acting Head

Politics | 8/8/2025

President Donald Trump has removed Billy Long from his post as commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, a mere two months following his confirmation. The abrupt decision was confirmed by two officials within the administration. In response to Long’s ousting, Trump has appointed Bessent as the acting head of the IRS.

The sudden dismissal of Commissioner Long raises questions about the reasons behind this unexpected move and its potential implications on the IRS’s leadership stability. Long’s tenure, albeit brief, may have faced challenges or controversies that prompted the administration to take this swift action, although specific details remain undisclosed at this time.

Unnamed sources within the administration have suggested that Trump’s decision to replace Long with Bessent as the acting head of the IRS reflects a strategic shift in leadership priorities or a desire for a different direction within the agency. The move has sparked interest and speculation within political and financial circles about the future trajectory of the IRS under the new acting commissioner.

Legal experts note that the removal of an IRS commissioner by the President is not unprecedented, but the timing and circumstances of Long’s ousting could have broader implications for the agency’s operations and policies. While the White House has not provided official reasons for Long’s removal, the decision to swiftly replace him underscores a significant development within the IRS leadership structure and its alignment with the administration’s objectives.

As the transition of leadership unfolds within the IRS, the implications of this sudden change remain to be seen. Observers are keenly monitoring how Acting Commissioner Bessent will navigate the agency’s responsibilities and any potential shifts in its strategic direction under the Trump administration.