IRS To Fire Nearly 7,000 Employees

Starting Thursday, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will terminate nearly 7,000 temporary workers across the United States. This group consists of employees who have been with the agency for a year or less, making up roughly 7 percent of its total staff.

According to Reuters, these reductions are a component of President Donald Trump’s aggressive plan to shrink the federal government, which has already impacted various sectors including banking oversight, forestry, aerospace research, and many other public service roles. The initiative is reportedly spearheaded by Elon Musk, a prominent tech mogul and significant financial supporter of Trump’s campaign.

Government Executive acquired an email stating, “Due to an executive directive, the IRS must let go of probationary staff not considered essential for the tax filing period.” Another internal communication to staff acknowledged the abrupt nature of the request to return to work, thanking them for their adaptability during this period.

This development aligns with earlier discussions this month where the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) instructed agency heads to dismiss employees still in their trial period. An OPM representative explained, “The trial period serves as an extension of the hiring process and does not guarantee a permanent position. Agencies are independently responding to a recent recruitment halt and aligning with the President’s overarching goal to reorganize and enhance federal operations for optimal public service.”

In a related move, Trump this week ordered the Justice Department to dismiss all U.S. attorneys appointed during the Biden administration. He publicized this decision on Tuesday via Truth Social, stating, “The Justice Department has faced unprecedented politicization over the last four years. Consequently, I’ve mandated the immediate dismissal of all ‘Biden Era’ U.S. Attorneys to restore trust and integrity to our justice system as we usher in America’s Golden Age.”

Additionally, last week the White House revealed that more than 75,000 federal employees opted into a voluntary separation incentive offered by the Trump administration. This program, detailed by the OPM last month, provided continued salary and benefits through September for those who left their positions by an initial deadline of February 6, which was subsequently postponed by judicial intervention.