Trump Treasury confirms its eyeing IRS for ‘streamlining’ shake-up as tax season heats up

The Trump administration’s Treasury Department is currently exploring various options to streamline the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in an effort to improve efficiency and reduce the deficit. Reports have surfaced indicating that as many as half of the IRS staff, which totals around 90,000 employees, could potentially be terminated as part of this streamlining initiative.

A spokesperson for the Treasury Department stated that the modernization of the IRS is crucial to keep pace with the evolving methods of tax filing, particularly with over 90% of individual tax returns now being filed electronically. The proposed changes aim to enhance taxpayer customer service and ensure a smooth and successful filing season.

The Treasury Department’s plans for potential terminations at the IRS are part of a broader effort by the Department of Government Efficiency to audit federal agencies and eliminate overspending, mismanagement, and fraud. This initiative has already led to the termination of thousands of employees across various government agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Department of Energy.

President Donald Trump has been vocal about his intentions to restructure the federal government and realign its agencies with his “America First” policies. In addition to terminating probationary employees who have not yet achieved full-time status or were recently reassigned, the administration is reportedly considering reassigning some IRS agents to assist the Department of Homeland Security with immigration enforcement.

In fact, President Trump previously suggested sending IRS agents to the border to aid in immigration enforcement efforts. Certain special IRS agents are authorized to carry firearms as part of their duties, and the Department of Homeland Security has requested the assistance of IRS agents for immigration enforcement activities.

As tax season unfolds, the Treasury Department’s efforts to streamline the IRS are ongoing, with the federal government expecting individual income tax returns to be submitted by the April 15 deadline. The ultimate goal of these proposed changes is to enhance the functionality of the IRS, improve taxpayer services, and ensure a more efficient tax filing process for all Americans.