WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has removed Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Billy Long from his role, replacing him temporarily with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
A senior White House official confirmed the news to The Daily Wire on Friday afternoon, first reported by The New York Times, only two months after Long was sworn into the role in June. He formerly served as a congressman for Missouri, and previously co-sponsored legislation to terminate the IRS.
Long will now become the ambassador of Iceland, a White House official shared with The Daily Wire on Friday.
“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,” Long said in a statement. “I am thrilled to answer his call to service and deeply committed to advancing his bold agenda. Exciting times ahead!”
Former Representative Billy Long during a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Photographer: Nathan Howard/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Bessent’s temporary appointment makes him the sixth person to head the IRS this year, NBC News reported. The Treasury Secretary is already tasked with “trade talks with China, Canada and Mexico” while also assisting in the search for a new Federal Reserve chair.
It is not immediately clear who the president is considering to replace Long.