IRS Plans Layoffs of 6,700 Employees Nationwide

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is set to lay off approximately 6,700 employees, primarily probationary workers, as part of a federal workforce reduction initiative under the Trump administration. These layoffs are expected to challenge the agency's capacity to manage operations during the critical tax-filing season, with concerns about timely return processing and maintaining service levels. The IRS currently employs around 17,000 probationary staff members, who generally have less job security than their tenured colleagues. The layoffs come amidst broader efforts to streamline government operations, including plans to reassign some IRS employees to the Department of Homeland Security for immigration enforcement. While the IRS aims to continue essential functions with a remaining workforce of about 6,600, the overall impact on tax collection and service delivery remains uncertain. This decision reflects ongoing tensions in federal employment strategy as the nation faces significant fiscal challenges.