IRS leadership shakeup confirmed

A rapid leadership change at the IRS tests how the agency will handle tariffs and new tax measures.

Trump Reshapes IRS Leadership as Bessent Takes Over

President Donald Trump has removed Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Billy Long and named Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to serve as acting commissioner. Long, who was sworn in in June, confirmed his departure to NBC News. The move comes as new tariffs take effect and a broad tax package signed into law this month reshapes how the government collects revenue.

Bessent will lead the IRS temporarily while also handling other duties, including trade talks and the search for the next Federal Reserve chair. The Treasury said Long will be thanked for his public service and that a permanent commissioner will be announced in due course. The change adds to a pattern of leadership turnover at the IRS this year.

The shift signals political risk to the administration’s revenue agenda. Frequent leadership changes can slow policy rollout, affect tax enforcement priorities, and shake public trust in how tax rules are applied. The timing—as tariffs take effect and a sweeping tax bill expands government spending—puts extra pressure on the agency to deliver steady administration of complex rules.

Framing the move as temporary concentrates power in a single official who already wears many hats, from trade talks to the potential Fed chair search. That concentration can improve speed in the short term but may raise questions about long term independence and governance. Observers will watch whether a permanent appointment is named soon and how the IRS recalibrates its strategy, budgeting, and service levels for taxpayers.

Highlights

Policy work needs clarity and steadiness to earn public trust.