Photo credit: www.govexec.com
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has begun notifying employees within its Taxpayer Experience Office and the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Taxpayer Services regarding job terminations. This action forms part of broader plans to reduce the agency’s workforce significantly.
An internal email, shared with Nextgov/FCW, revealed that these layoffs were communicated to staff members on Friday, marking a continuation of previously initiated staffing reductions across various IRS departments.
The Taxpayer Experience Office was established in 2022, after former IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, appointed during the Trump administration, emphasized its goal of enhancing taxpayer service. The office sought to unify IRS efforts focused on improving the overall experience for taxpayers.
During a recent town hall, employees were informed that all personnel in the Taxpayer Experience Office would face layoffs within 60 days, as noted by one disgruntled IRS worker who spoke to Nextgov/FCW. A subsequent RIF (Reduction in Force) notice stated that the IRS is discontinuing “certain positions” in the office, aligning with the Trump administration’s strategy to reduce the federal workforce.
Employees from the Taxpayer Experience Office had been engaged in various projects aimed at modernizing and improving taxpayer interfaces, including streamlining online IRS accounts, simplifying language in IRS communications, and refining tools for tracking refund statuses. However, the future of these initiatives remains uncertain following the layoffs.
The IRS is not alone in its cuts to customer service-oriented roles; similar reductions have taken place within other federal agencies. The Social Security Administration, for instance, recently closed its Office of Transformation, although some staff members were later reinstated.
The staff cuts at the IRS emerge concurrently with reports from the Associated Press concerning the termination of Direct File, an online tax filing service that had been increased under the Biden administration. Amanda Renteria, leader of the civic tech organization Code for America, critiqued this move as a significant misstep, warning that it could damage public trust in government functions.
“This affects not only current taxpayers but also the fundamental public trust we need to nurture,” she declared in her statement.
Additionally, employees were informed via email about impending layoffs in the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, though the exact number of affected individuals remains unclear. Since the Trump administration took office, many DEI initiatives across federal agencies have faced significant dismantling.
These workforce reductions contradict the Biden administration’s earlier investment in IRS staffing, facilitated by substantial funding from the Inflation Reduction Act aimed at bolstering the agency’s capabilities.
Under the Trump administration, the IRS has seen a series of changes in its upper management, often being led by acting commissioners. The agency has also attracted scrutiny for its recent decisions, including sharing taxpayer information with immigration enforcement—marking a notable shift from traditional practices regarding confidentiality.
The IRS has yet to provide commentary regarding the implications of the Direct File program termination or the recent layoffs.
Source
www.govexec.com