Finally, the ranks of the Internal Revenue Service have been reduced. By one.
Commissioner Billy Long, former Congressman from Missouri and livestock auctioneer extraordinaire, was confirmed as the IRS Commissioner after a bruising Senate process on June 12th. The vote reflected the current Senate make-up – 53-47. Long has been on the job for 57 days. That tenure ended today.
Long, during his time in the Congress, was a leading proponent of abolishing the agency outright after all the fraud and mismanagement uncovered during the Obama administration, sponsoring legislation to do just that on a couple different occasions. The short tenure raises a lot of eyebrows. From the New York Times:
Mr. Long had been an unusual choice to lead the I.R.S. He did not have much background in tax policy beyond promoting a tax credit that the I.R.S. has warned was riddled with fraud, and while he was in Congress he supported legislation calling for the abolition of the agency entirely.
Over his short tenure at the tax agency, Mr. Long, a former auctioneer, traveled to meet with I.R.S. staff across the country and appeared at a National Auction Association conference. He placed two top I.R.S. officials on administrative leave, amplifying a post on social media about the need to “purge” the agency’s work force.
The Times is reporting that Long, a long-time, staunch ally of Donald Trump, is being considered now for an ambassador role, which would mean another bruising confirmation battle in the Senate. It’ll be interesting to see how soon his name is resubmitted and to what country.
The leadership of the nation’s tax collection agency this year has resembled Murphy Brown’s secretary. If you’re younger, it’s become Hogwarts’ Defense of Dark Arts professor. If you’re older and musically inclined, the position is also akin to Spinal Tap’s drummer. Long was the sixth acting, interim, or confirmed director in 2025 alone.
The White House has already indicated whom will be lucky number 7 – Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He will take on the role on a temporary basis along with his more permanent work running the U.S. Treasury. It’s unclear whether Secretary of State/USAID acting director/acting Archivist/National Security Advisor Marco Rubio is discouraged at being passed over for this additional plate to spin. Seriously, though, Bessent is a fine choice, and will be a welcomed presence to reduce the workforce there like he’s already begun at Treasury.
I must admit, I have a soft spot in my heart for Commissioner Long. A few years ago, during a committee hearing held by Greg Walden, a female protester stood up in the gallery to interrupt and heckle the proceedings. Naturally, she had her cell phone on a selfie stick to record her 15 minutes of fame…or 2 minutes of fame before Capitol Police gave her the bum’s rush.
During the chaos that ensued clearing her out of the room, another off-camera Republican on the dais, remembering Long’s prior work in the private sector as an auctioneer, goaded Long into drowning out the protester. He obliged.
So long, Commissioner Long. We hardly knew you. However, with all of the new trade deals having been signed recently, which include a great expansion of foreign markets being now open for business to all sorts of U.S. goods and services, including U.S. beef, it seems a natural fit to have an auctioneer become the ambassador to a country now in the market bidding for another option for dinner.
Secretary/Acting Commissioner Bessent, with respect to the Late Michael Ledeen, more, please.
On second thought, actually, less please. Now that the tax code has certainty and is much more simplified thanks to the OBBB, cutting back at that agency can only help.
