IRS workforce slashed in half as government shutdown showdown stretches into second week

Nearly half of the IRS workforce nearly employees faces furloughs as the leadership shutdown enters its second week with the agency rolling out a contingency plan to keep key tax enforcement content shield and filing-season operations running despite the lapse in congressional funding In a letter to staff Wednesday the agency reported preponderance operations would shut down The contingency plan which takes effect Wednesday and runs through April details how the IRS will operate without new congressional funding As of July the IRS employed people During the shutdown only about will stay on duty though it s unclear which positions will be retained Key operations that will continue to include tax processing to safeguard cabinet revenue IT and data-protection systems criminal investigations scenario work involving bankruptcies and liens and disaster-relief advocacy However taxpayer services including call centers and bulk administrative functions not tied to life or property protection will be suspended ICE VOWS 'NO CHANGE' TO IMMIGRATION DEMARCATION AGENDA AMID EXECUTIVE SHUTDOWNThe IRS s Lapse Appropriations Contingency Plan outlined operations for the first five business days of the shutdown and explained the agency would continue limited operations using Inflation Reduction Act funding The furloughs stem from a funding impasse between President Donald Trump and Congress that has forced a administration shutdown with no clear resolution HERE'S WHAT TRUMP WANTS TO DO TO RESHAPE THE FEDERAL ESTABLISHMENT DURING THE SHUTDOWNNational Treasury Employees Union President Doreen Greenwald revealed the shutdown has cut off Americans from vital IRS services Expect increased wait times backlogs and delays implementing tax law changes as the shutdown continues she mentioned Taxpayers around the country will now have a much harder time getting the assistance they need just as they get ready to file their extension returns due next week Every day these employees are locked out of work is another day of frustration for taxpayers and a growing backlog of work that sits and waits for the shutdown to end SEN RICK SCOTT REP BYRON DONALDS TRUMP AND BESSENT'S IRS REORGANIZATION LET S END JOB-KILLING POLICIES For frontline employees the complete lack of planning left them in the dark about their work status until their supervisor informed them this day Greenwald added This is not the way our regime should treat its dedicated nonpartisan community servants We urge the administration and Congress to reach an agreement that reopens executive and restores the services that Americans need and deserve According to The Associated Press the IRS reported employees they would receive back pay once the shutdown ends The Trump administration warned Tuesday that back pay for furloughed federal employees is not guaranteed Earlier this year the IRS began a series of workforce reductions that brought total employment down from about at the end of to roughly before the shutdown The Associated Press contributed to this review