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Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal
Billy Long
Photo: United States Department of State, Public domain

The Administration · Out the door

Billy Long

Former IRS Commissioner Out the door

Former Missouri congressman and auctioneer who once sponsored a bill to abolish the IRS, led it for under two months in 2025, the shortest tenure of any confirmed commissioner, and is now ambassador to Iceland.

Why they left: Trump removed him on August 8, 2025, less than two months after his confirmation; a White House official confirmed it and no reason was given, and Long said he was being named ambassador to Iceland. 2 3 Now: U.S. Ambassador to Iceland: the Senate confirmed him 46-43 on May 18, 2026 and he took up the post on August 10, 2026, according to Wikipedia. 1

Biography

Billy Long was born in Springfield, Missouri, and ran an auction business for three decades before representing southwest Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. 1 In Congress he sponsored a bill to abolish the IRS, and he had no background in tax administration. 2 After losing a 2022 Senate primary he worked for firms that helped businesses claim a pandemic-era tax credit. 1 2

The Senate confirmed him as IRS commissioner 53-44 on June 12, 2025. 1 2 He told employees he would spend his first 90 days building a new culture at an agency that had lost about a quarter of its staff that year. 2

Trump removed him on August 8, 2025, making him the shortest-serving commissioner confirmed by the Senate since the post was created in 1862. 2 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took over as acting commissioner. 2 3 Long was later confirmed as ambassador to Iceland. 1

In the job

What happened while Billy held the post.

  1. Sworn in as commissioner, the first confirmed leader after four acting heads earlier in the year. 1 2

  2. Removed by Trump; Bessent became acting commissioner. Bloomberg counted six different leaders of the IRS in 2025 to that point. 2 3

  3. Confirmed 46-43 as ambassador to Iceland, after a confirmation hearing remark about Iceland becoming the 52nd state drew a protest petition in Iceland, according to Wikipedia. 1

Disputes, and their side

What critics, courts or investigators have said, and the answer given. An allegation is not a finding.

  1. After his nomination, his dormant Senate campaign committee received nearly $137,000 in donations and he repaid himself $130,000 of a personal loan to the campaign; watchdog groups called the pattern highly unusual, according to Wikipedia. 1

    Their side: No public response found in the sources reviewed.

  2. He worked with a firm that promoted the employee retention tax credit, a pandemic program the IRS later shut down over fraudulent claims; Senate Democrats sought a criminal investigation of his ties to other alleged tax-credit schemes. 1 2

    Their side: In a September 2023 interview Long said he had helped only eligible companies. 1

Career

  1. Owner, Billy Long Auctions; talk radio host in Springfield, Missouri
  2. U.S. Representative for Missouri's 7th district
  3. Lost the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Missouri
  4. Sales work for tax-credit advisory firms; real estate agent
  5. Senior adviser, Office of Personnel Management
  6. Commissioner of Internal Revenue
  7. U.S. Ambassador to Iceland

Our reporting

We have not yet published a story that names Billy Long. When we do, it will appear here.

Sources for this file

  1. Wikipedia, Billy Long, Nov. 13, 2026
  2. AP (via WSLS), Trump removes Billy Long as IRS commissioner, giving him the shortest-ever tenure in the role, Aug. 8, 2025
  3. Bloomberg News (via Accounting Today), IRS chief Billy Long to depart, Aug. 8, 2025

File checked Nov. 13, 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Tell the desk.