Washington — Billy Long, the commissioner of the IRS, is leaving his post after just two months on the job, a White House official confirmed to CBS News.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will lead the IRS temporarily, the official said. President Trump is expected to nominate Long for an ambassadorship.
The news was first reported by The New York Times.
Long was confirmed by the Senate in mid-June and took over the IRS after some tumult for the tax collection agency’s leadership. The IRS has had several interim commissioners since Mr. Trump’s return to office in January, including one who lasted for just 48 hours. The Trump administration has aimed to dramatically trim the agency’s workforce.
A former auctioneer and Missouri Republican congressman, Long was chosen to take over the IRS late last year after previously pushing to repeal much of the tax code during his time in the House. Long isn’t an accountant by trade, but Mr. Trump touted his time as a tax adviser. After retiring from Congress in 2023, Long advised businesses on the Employee Retention Tax Credit, drawing criticism from Democrats who noted the credit’s high rate of fraud.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
