'That didn't last long’: Trump stuns with abrupt axing of his own IRS chief

President Donald Trump is firing a former Missouri Congressman whom he nominated to be commissioner of the IRS, according to a New York Times report on Friday.

Trump earlier this year nominated Billy Long to be commissioner of the agency, ousting Danny Werfel from the position. Long was confirmed by the Senate and sworn in just last month.

Four people familiar with the matter told The Times that Trump is removing Long, and he plans to nominate Long for an ambassadorship. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting commissioner until the administration finds a suitable replacement, according to the report.

Long sent multiple 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 told workers on Thursday.

The news drew swift reaction from internet observers.

David Mark‪, managing editor at the Washington Examiner Magazine, wrote on Bluesky, "That was fast."

CPA Albert J. Campo, CPA, echoed the sentiment, writing: "Well that certainly didn’t last long."

As did tax expert Josh Youngblood, who wrote: "Wow. That didn’t last very long."

Alex Jacquez, chief of policy and advocacy at Groundwork, joked on X, "More like Billy Not-For-Long!"

‪Helen Kennedy‬, a former New York Daily News and Boston Herald journalist, wrote on Bluesky, "I shudder to think what Billy Long refused to do for Trump."

Kennedy flagged that the IRS has had six different people in charge this year.

"It is August," she quipped.

CPA Mike Sylvester added on Bluesky, "My goodness... I have a series of posts about the absolute dumpster fire the IRS will be next year; and it looks like that dumpster fire might have just increased in size!"

Meanwhile, Missouri educator Jon Turner wrote on Bluesky, "For those of us who have known Billy for a long time, this comes with little surprise."