IRS prepares to fire half its staff: report
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is preparing for a significant reduction in its workforce, with plans to cut up to half of its 90,000 employees, according to a report from the Associated Press.
This move aligns with the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to reduce the size of the federal government and improve efficiency.
The cuts are reportedly part of a broader initiative spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an agency tasked with streamlining government operations.
The IRS, which currently employs around 90,000 people, has already seen job losses earlier this year, with approximately 7,000 probationary employees losing their positions in February.
To soften the impact of these layoffs, many IRS employees have been offered a “deferred resignation program.” This buyout initiative allows workers to resign voluntarily while receiving full pay for several months, giving them time to seek new employment opportunities.
However, not everyone is convinced that these cuts will lead to a more efficient government. Former IRS Commissioner John Koskinen has expressed deep concerns over the scale of the reductions.
Writing in the New York Times, Koskinen warned that aggressive downsizing of the IRS would make the agency “dysfunctional.” He argued that a weakened IRS would undermine the government’s ability to effectively collect taxes, ultimately leading to greater inefficiencies and revenue shortfalls.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that the Trump administration is moving forward with “reduction in force” plans across multiple federal agencies. When contacted by The New York Times, the IRS declined to comment on the specifics of the reported layoffs, leaving many questions unanswered about the agency’s future structure and operations.
Adding to the intrigue, sources indicate that key figures from the Department of Government Efficiency, including Gavin Kliner and Sam Crocos, have been working closely with the Trump administration to gain access to IRS databases and other records.
While it remains unclear what specific changes DOGE intends to implement, the department has reportedly taken a keen interest in reviewing the IRS’s activities in recent weeks.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.