The three people spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the plans. The Washington Post first reported on Friday's layoffs at the IRS, which collects revenue and enforces tax laws.
The workforce reductions are part of the Trump administration's efforts to shrink the size of the federal bureaucracy through billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. The administration has closed agencies, laid off probationary employees who have not yet gained civil service protection and offered buyouts through a "deferred resignation program."
A Treasury spokesperson who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview Treasury plans said Friday that any staffing reductions are part of larger process improvements and tech innovations that will allow the IRS to operate more effectively.
Rolling back Biden-era hiring and consolidating support functions are intended to more efficiently serve the public, the spokesperson said in a statement.
The IRS started workforce reductions in February. Roughly 7,000 probationary employees with one year or less of service at the agency were notified they would lose their jobs.
However, a federal judge recently ordered those workers to be reinstated.
In March, IRS employees involved in the 2025 tax season were told they would not be allowed to accept a buyout offer from the Trump administration until after the taxpayer filing deadline of April 15.
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Credit: AP
Credit: AP