Around 22,000 IRS Employees Accept Deferred Resignation Offer

Approximately 22,000 employees at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have accepted President Trump's latest deferred buyout offer, significantly reducing the agency's workforce, which had been bolstered to around 100,000 employees under the Biden administration. The cuts, resulting from the buyout, are expected to hinder the IRS's ability to collect taxes, with reports indicating an abandonment of certain audits and potential challenges for taxpayers seeking assistance. Additionally, about 7,000 probationary employees have been laid off, a move currently contested in court, which could further exacerbate staffing shortages. The Treasury Department has expressed a commitment to maintaining efficiency while delivering essential services to taxpayers, despite these challenges. This exodus has also seen senior leadership resign, including acting IRS Commissioner Melanie Krause. Critics, such as Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, have voiced concerns over the negative impact of these staffing reductions on taxpayer support.