Billy Long

William Hollis Long II (born August 11, 1955) is an American politician and auctioneer who is curretly serving as the United States Ambassador to Iceland since August 2026. A member of the Republican Party, Long also served as the 51st commissioner of internal revenue from June to August 2025 and as the U.S. representative for from 2011 to 2023.

Long was elected to fill the district's seat in 2010, succeeding Roy Blunt upon his election to the U.S. Senate. The district included much of the southwestern quadrant of the state and was anchored in Springfield. It also included Branson, and Joplin. After Blunt announced that he would not run for re-election to the Senate in 2022, Long became a candidate in the 2022 senate race to succeed him, but lost the Republican primary to Eric Schmitt.

Long was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in June 2025, and took office the following month. On August 8, 2025, The New York Times reported that Long was being removed by Trump in preparation for an ambassadorship to Iceland.

Long was nominated to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Iceland. While awaiting confirmation, he served as a Senior Advisor for the Office of Personnel Management. His nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May 2026.

Early life and education William Hollis Long II was born in Springfield on August 11, 1955. He is a fourth-generation native of Missouri. He attended the University of Missouri from 1973 to 1976 but did not graduate. Long then attended and later graduated in 1979 from the Missouri Auction School, based in Kansas City. In 1983, he received a professional designation from the Certified Auctioneers Institute, hosted at Indiana University Bloomington.

Early career Long was an auctioneer and owned Billy Long Auctions, LLC from 1979 to 2011. He was named "Best Auctioneer in the Ozarks" for seven years in a row. In 2016, he was inducted into National Auctioneers' Association Hall of Fame after his 2009 induction into the Missouri Professional Auctioneers’ Association Hall of Fame. He was a talk radio show host on the Springfield-based station KWTO and worked as a realtor part time. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, National Auctioneers Association, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the National Rifle Association of America, and the Greater Springfield Board of Realtors. He was also the former president of the Missouri Auctioneers' Association.

U.S. House of Representatives

Long was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2023.

Long was among the 75 Republican cosponsors to the Fair Tax Act (H.R. 25/S. 18), first introduced in 2015 by Representative Rob Woodall (R-GA) and then again in 2017. The bill would have phased out all IRS funding and abolished the IRS in 2019. It also would have scrapped the income tax system and replaced it with a 23% national retail sales tax primarily administered by the states. The incident generated considerable laughter and applause from the audience.

In September 2018, in response to sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Long retweeted a Twitter post comparing the allegations to a "kiss on the forehead".

In December 2021, Long was given the Order of the Rising Sun, on behalf of the emperor of Japan in recognition of Long's "significant contributions to deepening bilateral relations and promoting legislative exchanges between Japan and the United States". Long joined a crowded field of candidates including former Governor of Missouri Eric Greitens, Attorney General of Missouri Eric Schmitt, fellow United States Representative Vicky Hartzler, and President Pro Tempore of the Missouri Senate Dave Schatz.

Long came in fourth place, receiving 5% of the vote.

Return to the private sector Tax consulting

In 2023, Long worked as a salesperson for Lifetime Advisors and Commerce Terrace Consulting, two companies that encourage clients to apply for tax credits and subsequently take a cut of the benefits. On his X profile, Long self-describes as a "Certified Tax & Business Advisor". In a September 2023 interview, Long stated that he helped only eligible companies claim the credit.

In 2024, Long lobbied in Washington, D.C., for the IRS to approve more tax credit claims.

Long was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Donald Trump. Long's experience in the tax industry is less than a typical IRS commissioner, but his twelve years in the U.S. House of Representatives is the most of any IRS commissioner since at least 1900, commissioners typically coming from other federal bureaucratic posts or private practice. Long has previously called for abolishing the IRS, as well as replacing much of the tax code with a flat tax.

In January 2025, following his nomination to head the IRS, Long received nearly $137,000 in campaign contributions to his Senate campaign committee, which had raised less than $36,000 during the previous two years. Long then paid himself $130,000 in remuneration for the outstanding portion of a $250,000 loan he had made to his 2022 US Senate campaign.

Republican senator Mike Crapo stated that he was looking forward to Long's ideas on the agency. The National Taxpayers Union, a conservative advocacy organization, praised President Trump's selection for Long to lead the agency in reform. Jason Smith, the House Ways and Means chairman, also praised Trump's choice to lead the tax-collection agency, stating that: "I couldn’t have picked anyone better."

However, some Democrats raised concern. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon criticized President Trump for wanting to replace Danny Werfel, who later stepped down as commissioner on January 20, 2025, and Long's involvement with the scam-plagued Employee Retention Credit. House representative Don Beyer, who serves on the House Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee, echoed his support for Werfel to complete his term, and dismay at Long's lack of qualifications and previous efforts to eliminate the agency he was nominated to lead. In June, Talking Points Memo reported that Long was said by Senator Ron Wyden (Democrat of Oregon) to be earning $195,200, "which is the maximum salary for a federal worker in Washington D.C.," in this position, while Long's "internal OPM calendar . . . shows him averaging less than three items per week over the past three months".

Long was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 12, 2025, by a 53–44 vote. He was sworn in four days later on June 16, 2025.

On August 8, 2025, President Trump removed Long as IRS commissioner, less than two months after his confirmation. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent became acting commissioner.

Ambassadorship to Iceland nomination

On his removal as IRS commissioner, Trump had asked Long to become his ambassador to Iceland. Long was nominated to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Iceland. This resulted in an Icelandic petition demanding that Long should be rejected as an ambassador to Iceland.

While awaiting confirmation, he served as a Senior Advisor for the Office of Personnel Management.

Political positions

Donald Trump Long was an early enthusiastic supporter of Donald Trump, and claimed to have coined the phrase "getting on the Trump train."

After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election and Donald Trump refused to concede, Long pushed Trump's false claims of voter fraud in the election. In December 2020, Long supported an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the election based on allegations of fraud.

Long supported President Donald Trump's 2017 executive order banning entry to the U.S. to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.

Energy Long served on the Energy and Commerce Committee during his entirety in Congress. He advocated for access to affordable energy for Americans. In 2010, he signed the No Climate Pledge by AFP. Long was a proponent of drilling for oil, voting for opening the outer continental shelf to oil drilling.

In his first year of Congress, Long co-sponsored the Fair Tax Act of 2011. This bill called for the replacement of income tax and estate tax with 23% sales tax. The letter followed the Humane Society's support of a successful Missouri ballot measure strengthening regulations on dog breeders.

Healthcare In 2014, Long introduced the Taxpayer Transparency Act. The bill required that federal agencies label any distributed promotional or educational material carry the "paid for by taxpayers" label. The act was a response to a multi-million ad campaign by the Department of Health and Human Services to promote the Affordable Care Act. The bill passed the House amended, before the Senate then passed on to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. In 2022, in an interview following the Uvalde school shooting, Long blamed the increase in mass shootings on society's lack of respect for human life, which he believes began with the legalization of abortion.

Long was repeatedly endorsed by the National Rifle Association of America, earning an "A" rating from them for his demonstrated record of being a pro-gun Congressman.

Violence Against Women Act In 2013, Long voted no on re-authorizing the Violence Against Women Act.

Abortion Long holds a pro-life position on abortion. He has supported efforts to limit abortion access, including legislation aimed at defunding Planned Parenthood and co-sponsored the Sanctity of Human Life Act that proposed to grant full personhood to fertilised embryos. Long has also expressed his support for the overturning of Roe v. Wade and believes that abortion laws should be regulated at the state level. Additionally, he opposes federal funding for abortion services.

In 2015, Long cosponsored the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36). This bill sought to prohibit most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

LGBTQ rights In 2015, Long condemned the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which held that same-sex marriage bans violated the U.S. Constitution. In 2022, Long voted against the Respect for Marriage Act that required all states and territories to recognise same-sex and interracial marriages.

Religion Long considers himself to be an advocate for freedom of religion. He voted yes in support of both the First Amendment Defense Act which aimed to legally protect religious opposition to homosexuality and same-sex marriage as free speech, Long is a member of the First and Calvary Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Missouri.

Awards Long was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the emperor of Japan in 2021. A medical clinic named "Billy Long Medical & Dental Education Center" by Jordan Valley Community Health Center Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Greenwood Laboratory School, Missouri State National Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame Guardian of Small Business Award by the National Federation of Independent Business National Association of Manufacturers Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence

Election history

2022

2010

Republican primary Long joined the race for the 7th Congressional District after incumbent U.S. representative Roy Blunt chose to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Kit Bond. In the crowded seven-way Republican primary—the de facto election in the state's most Republican district—Long won with 36% of the vote.

General election

2012

2014

In the August 5 Republican primary, Long defeated Marshall Works, 62.4% to 37.6%.

2016

In the August 2 Republican primary, Long defeated Nathan Clay, Christopher Batsche, Matthew Evans, Lyndle Spencer, Matthew Canovi, James Nelson and Mary Byrne.

2018

In the Republican primary, Long defeated Jim Evans, Lance Norris, and Benjamin Holcomb. In the general election, he defeated Democratic nominee Jamie Schoolcraft, who had defeated Kenneth Hatfield, John Farmer de la Torre, and Vincent Jennings in the Democratic primary.

2020

In the August 4 Republican primary, Long defeated Eric Harleman, Kevin VanStory, Steve Chetnik and Camille Lombardi-Olive.

Committee assignments

Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Subcommittee on Health Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Homeland Security Republican Steering Committee

Caucus memberships Congressional Arts Caucus Congressional Constitution Caucus