The recent dismissal of IRS Commissioner Billy Long has generated considerable attention following a dispute involving the use of taxpayer information for immigration enforcement.
According to Breitbart, IRS Commissioner Billy Long was removed from his position shortly after a conflict between the IRS and the White House regarding the use of taxpayer data to locate thousands of illegal immigrants in the United States.
The Washington Post reported that the Department of Homeland Security had sent the IRS a list of approximately 40,000 individuals believed to be in the country illegally. The tax agency was asked to use confidential taxpayer information to verify their addresses, but was only able to confirm fewer than 3 percent of the names submitted by immigration officials.
The clash occurred following an April 2025 agreement between the Treasury Department and DHS that would permit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to access tax information to locate illegal immigrants targeted for deportation.
Under the terms of this memorandum, signed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE Director Todd Lyons could request tax information on individuals who had been ordered deported. The IRS would then be authorized to provide location information for these individuals.
Sources indicated that Long had previously informed agency executives that the IRS would not release confidential taxpayer information outside the specific parameters of the agreement with DHS.
The ousted commissioner had been selected by President Donald Trump to lead the IRS in December 2024, serving less than a year in the position before this sudden removal.
Multiple sources told NBC News that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would temporarily assume leadership of the tax agency following Long's departure. This interim arrangement suggests the administration is seeking quick continuity in IRS operations during this transition.
The swift removal appears directly connected to Long's position on protecting taxpayer data, highlighting tensions between tax administration priorities and immigration enforcement objectives within the federal government.
The names the IRS could successfully match were primarily individuals for whom DHS had provided an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), which is often used by immigrants in place of Social Security numbers when filing taxes.
These ITINs facilitate tax payments from undocumented immigrants, who contribute tens of billions of dollars in tax revenue annually, according to the Washington Post's sources. The identification system allows individuals without legal status to comply with tax obligations.
The low match rate reported by the IRS—fewer than 3 percent of submitted names—suggests significant limitations in using tax data for immigration enforcement purposes, at least through the methods attempted in this case.
This incident highlights the complex relationship between federal agencies with different missions and the tensions that can arise when policy objectives conflict.
The removal of a senior official over what appears to be a dispute about data sharing protocols raises questions about agency independence and the protection of confidential taxpayer information. Long's position reportedly centered on adhering to established agreements regarding how and when tax data can be shared.
The situation unfolds as the administration continues to prioritize immigration enforcement, with various federal departments being enlisted to support these efforts. This particular approach—using tax records to locate individuals—represents one of several strategies being employed to address illegal immigration.
