This month, the Trump administration has launched a sweeping workforce reduction, cutting over 11,000 jobs at the IRS and the Pentagon. On Thursday, officials laid off 6,000 IRS employees during tax season, raising concerns about service delays.
The Pentagon will eliminate 5,400 civilian positions next week and implement a hiring freeze to reduce its workforce by 5 to 8%. The administration tasked Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with executing the layoffs.
CBS News obtained an internal IRS email confirming that terminated probationary employees were not deemed critical for tax filing operations. Most affected employees joined the agency less than a year ago or recently moved into new roles.
Reports indicate that nearly half of the IRS terminations will target the Small Business/Self-Employed (SBSE) Division, which handles tax compliance. SBSE Commissioner Lia Colbert emailed that 3,000 probationary hires would lose their jobs by the end of the week.
The IRS employed about 83,000 people as of the 2023 fiscal year, but these job cuts could weaken enforcement and taxpayer assistance. Harvard Kennedy School professor Linda Blimes warned that many Americans struggle to reach tax officials.
The Biden administration previously secured $80 billion to strengthen IRS operations, but republican opposition led to funding reductions. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick explained that Trump intends to abolish the IRS and create an External Revenue Service focused on tariffs.
At the Pentagon, officials described the upcoming layoffs as the first step in a broader restructuring effort. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supported the reductions, saying the department “needs to cut the fat (HQ) and grow the muscle (warfighters).”
Polling suggests mixed reactions to Trump administration job cuts, with 54% of Americans disapproving of federal workforce changes. The full impact of these cuts remains uncertain as officials prepare for further reductions.
