As Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiates its audit of “inefficient” employees within the federal government, President Donald Trump has reportedly ordered the termination of thousands of personnel from the US Internal Revenue Service, as indicated by news agency Reuters, based on sources close to the situation.
This decision may strain the resources of the tax-collecting agency during the crucial tax-filing period.
Officials from the Office of Personnel Management, responsible for federal hiring practices, directed all federal agencies on Thursday to let go of their probationary employees, who lack full job security.
The Reuters report mentions that the exact number of IRS employees to be dismissed remains unclear.
What is the size of the IRS workforce?
During former President Joe Biden’s tenure, the workforce of the US IRS grew to approximately 100,000 staff members, which includes about 16,000 probationary employees.
Biden aimed to enhance the efficiency of the agency, especially in its capacity to conduct audits on corporations and wealthy individuals.
The IRS continues to operate for several months beyond the deadline, working on tax returns and issuing refunds to taxpayers.
Who will be affected by the IRS layoffs?
The layoffs will focus on all probationary staff who did not opt out through a now-closed buyout program or those who have not been classified as essential for navigating the ongoing tax season, which intensifies as the federal return filing deadline of April 15 approaches, according to a source familiar with the matter, as reported by Reuters.
What is the rationale behind these job cuts?
The IRS layoffs, initially reported by the New York Times, form part of a broader initiative led by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to reform the federal government, which they contend is excessively large and inefficient, laden with waste and fraud.
The IRS has yet to provide a comment on the situation.
Another insider expressed concerns that the layoffs could happen without adequate assessment of their potential impact on the agency’s functions.
“They are aiming to cut numbers across the board without evaluating the consequences on operations,” the source told Reuters.