Trump is burning through IRS heads at a rate of almost 1 a month. Here's who's held the job, and why they left.

• The IRS is about to have its seventh leader this year.

• IRS Commissioner Billy Long is leaving the agency less than two months after his confirmation.

• It's a time of significant turnover at the IRS, from top to bottom.

President Donald Trump is over six and a half months into his second term. In that time, he's averaged a new IRS leader roughly every month.

There have been six acting or confirmed commissioners in 2025, counting former Commissioner Danny Werfel, who resigned just as Trump took office, even though his term lasted until 2027.

On Friday, IRS Commissioner Billy Long wrote on X that he was leaving his post less than two months after being confirmed to become the US Ambassador to Iceland. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will serve as acting commissioner.

The unprecedented turnover at the top — President Joe Biden had just three IRS commissioners over his four-year term — extends throughout the IRS workforce. More than 25,000 employees have left the agency since Trump took office.

Danny Werfel: Resigned before Trump took office

Danny Werfel was chosen by Biden to serve as IRS commissioner and took on the role in March 2023. Though his term was set to last until 2027, Werfel announced on January 17, days before Trump's inauguration, that he was resigning.

"While I had always intended to complete my full term as Commissioner, the President-elect has announced his plan to nominate a new IRS Commissioner," Werfel wrote in a letter at the time, adding, "After significant introspection and consultation with others, I've determined the best way to support a successful transition is to depart the IRS on January 20, 2025."

Prior to Werfel's resignation, Trump had said he planned to nominate Long to replace him. Typically, IRS commissioners serve five-year terms and remain in their roles even when the president changes.

Douglas O'Donnell: January 20 to February 28

Douglas O'Donnell, the IRS deputy commissioner, took over as acting IRS commissioner at the start of Trump's term, after Werfel resigned.

A little over a month later, the IRS announced O'Donnell planned to retire after decades with the agency.

Melanie Krause: February 28 to April 16

Melanie Krause was the IRS's acting commissioner for less than two months. Previously the agency's chief operating officer, she became the deputy commissioner and acting head of the agency in February.

She resigned in April under the administration's deferred resignation program.

Gary Shapley: April 16 to April 18

A longtime IRS investigator, Gary Shapley, became a whistleblower and testified to Congress about what he saw as the agency's mishandling of its investigation into Hunter Biden, then the sitting president's son.

Shapley's testimony was frequently discussed on conservative media, and Republicans celebrated his return to the IRS. Trump took it a step further when he named Shapley acting commissioner on tax day.

The New York Times reported that Elon Musk, then the de facto leader of the White House DOGE office, supported the move, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent did not. Still, in a post on X after Shapley stepped down, Bessent said Shapley "remains among my most important senior advisors at the @USTreasury as we work together to rethink and reform the IRS."

Michael Faulkender: April 18 to June 16

Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender stepped in to lead the IRS on an acting basis for just under two months.

Faulkender stepped aside once Long was confirmed. His tenure was most notable for bringing the IRS closer to Bessent, who reportedly did not approve of the Musk-backed Shapley.

Billy Long: June 16 to August 8

Former Congressman Billy Long lasted less than two months atop the IRS.

Long, a Republican who represented Missouri for six terms, was confirmed in June on a party-line 53 to 44 vote. Senate Democrats opposed him due to his lack of tax-related experience. Long previously supported legislation to abolish the IRS.

As commissioner, Long became known for cheerfully emailing IRS employees to tell them to take off work early on Fridays. "With this being Thursday before another FriYay, please enjoy a 70-minute early exit tomorrow," Long wrote Thursday in an email to his staff, per CNN. "That way you'll be well rested for my 70th birthday on Monday."

The New York Times reported that he clashed with the Treasury Secretary, who will now lead the tax agency as Long's acting replacement.

"It is a honor to serve my friend President Trump and I am excited to take on my new role as the ambassador to Iceland. I am thrilled to answer his call to service and deeply committed to advancing his bold agenda," Long wrote Friday on X. "Exciting times ahead!"

Trump announced his intent to nominate Long after the 2024 election, even though there was already a commissioner at the time.

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