Trump Administration Plans Major IRS Workforce Reduction

Proposed cuts could halve the IRS workforce, raising concerns about tax processing delays and reduced enforcement capabilities.

The Trump administration is reportedly considering cutting the IRS workforce by 50%, reducing its staff to levels not seen since the 1950s.
Tax experts and former IRS officials warn that such cuts could cripple the agency’s ability to process tax returns, issue refunds, and enforce tax compliance effectively.
Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, have written a letter denouncing the proposed cuts, citing potential delays in refunds and weakened audits of wealthy taxpayers.
Over 7,000 probationary IRS employees were already laid off in February as part of broader federal workforce reductions spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk.
Seven former IRS commissioners have publicly criticized the cuts, likening them to a private company firing its accounts receivable staff, and warning of significant disruptions to government revenue collection.