The Internal Revenue Service prepares for massive layoffs during tax season, potentially disrupting services for millions of Americans.
This is the kind of disruption Ron Paul dreamed of. And it’s finally happening.
At a Glance
- IRS to lay off thousands of probationary workers amid busy tax season
- Layoffs part of Trump administration’s efforts to reduce federal workforce
- Concerns grow over potential impacts on tax return processing and refund delays
- Legal challenges arise as 14 states sue over the constitutionality of workforce reduction
IRS Faces Major Workforce Reduction
The Internal Revenue Service is bracing for significant layoffs of probationary employees during the peak of the 2025 tax season, a move that could severely impact its operations and ability to serve taxpayers. This workforce reduction is part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to streamline the federal government, spearheaded by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The IRS workforce had grown to approximately 100,000 under former President Joe Biden’s administration, including about 16,000 probationary workers. Now, under President Trump’s directive, the Office of Personnel Management has ordered all federal agencies to dismiss probationary employees who are not deemed essential or did not resign under a buyout program.
The timing of these layoffs has raised serious concerns about the IRS’s ability to handle the influx of tax returns and provide timely refunds. The agency is already grappling with existing challenges, including processing backlogs and staffing shortages.
“They are trying to reduce numbers across the board with no analysis to the impact it will have on operations,” a source familiar with the impending layoffs told Reuters.
Too bad!
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged the sensitive timing, stating, “We’re in the middle of the tax-filing season right now. So I don’t imagine anything’s going to go on at the I.R.S. until then or beyond.”
The Trump administration’s approach to reducing the federal workforce has not gone unchallenged. Attorneys General from 14 states have filed lawsuits against the administration, arguing that DOGE’s authority violates the U.S. Constitution. They claim the department wields “virtually unchecked power” in its efforts to reshape the federal government.
Republicans, including President Trump, have long criticized the expansion of the IRS, suggesting that increased personnel leads to harassment of middle-class taxpayers. This stance aligns with Elon Musk’s vision to “delete entire agencies” as part of government streamlining efforts.
If a politician is pushing to EMPOWER the IRS, then they’re not on your side…
