The Internal Revenue Service is reportedly cutting 40,000 of its 90,000-person workforce, according to sources that spoke to the Associated Press.
The report cited people with knowledge of the plan who asked for anonymity because they were not authorized to release details. President Donald Trump has said that he plans to reduce taxes imposed on citizens by replacing revenue through tariffs imposed on foreign imports.
Former IRS commissioner John Koskinen told the AP that if the plan was carried out, it would render the IRS ‘dysfunctional.’
The reduction in the IRS workforce is part of the mission of the Department of Government Efficiency to shrink the size of government.
A previous report in February said the department had already axed about 7,000 employees, including some who were probationary hires. The probationary firings have been challenged in court and were most recently shut down by a Clinton-appointed judge.
The AP report noted that the IRS workforce is composed of 56% minority employees and 65% female employees.
Former IRS commissioner John Koskinen told the AP that if the plan was carried out, it would render the IRS “dysfunctional.” Koskinen faced fierce criticism from Republicans over allegations that the IRS targeted conservative organizations during his time as commissioner under the Obama administration.
The deliberations were first reported by the New York Times.
Left-wing critics of the plan to shrink the workforce at the IRS say those actions will make enforcement more difficult and enable more fraud and waste in the collection of taxes. That might also lead to growing deficits if revenue is affected.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino hinted at further action against the IRS by the Trump administration.
“Time to abolish the IRS,” he wrote.
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