Longtime ally of President Donald Trump, former Rep. Billy Long (R-MO), is out at the IRS after just two months.
Four sources told The New York Times that, despite his loyalty and allegiance to Trump, Long is being canned and will be given an easy ambassador post instead. The White House claimed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will do the job as well as serving in his current post.
The Times characterized Long as “an unusual choice” since he “does not have much background in tax policy beyond promoting a tax credit that the IRS has warned was riddled with fraud.”
In the two months on the job, Long hasn’t announced any of the fraud he said the office had. He traveled all over the country, visiting IRS staff and speaking at the National Auction Association conference. He claimed to have “purged” the agency after putting two top officials on administrative leave.
“At the same time, he has also repeatedly sent emails to all IRS employees allowing them to leave work early on Friday afternoon,” the Times reported.
“Please enjoy a 70-minute early exit tomorrow. That way you’ll be rested for my 70th birthday on Monday!” Long said in an email to IRS staff on Thursday.
The same kind of firing and job swap happened to Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL), who was said to have been removed from the National Security Advisor post. Instead, he was nominated to be the United Nations Ambassador. Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be taking over the advisory post instead. However, it was revealed while under oath that Waltz was never fired and continued to be drawing his taxpayer-funded salary of $195,200. It’s unclear whether Long will enjoy the same perk.