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IRS Faces Turmoil as Trump-Appointed DOGE Implements Sweeping Cuts

The Department of Government Efficiency's actions have led to mass layoffs, morale issues, and concerns about taxpayer data security during tax season.

A traffic light is red outside the US Internal Revenue Service building in Washington, DC, on February 20.
Former Internal Revenue Service workers leave their office after being laid off in downtown Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, February 20.
Carts containing documents sit organized at the IRS Processing Facility on September 6, 2024 in Austin, Texas.

Overview

  • The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Trump appointees, has initiated significant layoffs at the IRS, with plans to cut 20% of the workforce by mid-May.
  • IRS employees describe a chaotic work environment, with reports of intimidation, unapproved data access demands, and widespread morale issues, including staff crying at work.
  • DOGE staffers have sought access to sensitive taxpayer data systems, raising privacy concerns and sparking legal challenges from immigrant-rights groups over potential misuse of information.
  • The IRS has shuttered over 110 taxpayer assistance offices and paused modernization programs, which experts warn could hurt long-term operations and taxpayer services.
  • Critics, including former IRS officials, argue that these measures are undermining the agency, while the White House defends the cuts as efforts to eliminate waste and fraud.