(VOR News) – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reportedly exploring the possibility of reducing its personnel by as much as fifty percent through the use of incentive buyouts, attrition, and layoffs.

According to two sources that have been informed about the matter. At the moment, these tactics are in the process of being developed.

In spite of the fact that they discussed the goals on Tuesday, the individuals reached a consensus that they would remain anonymous during the process. The fact that they lacked the authority to reveal their goals is the reason why this has occurred.

By reducing the size of the Department of Government Efficiency, which is led by billionaire Elon Musk, the Trump administration is working towards the goal of reducing the number of people employed by the government.

Layoffs are crucial to achieving this goal.

Additionally, in accordance with these measures, agencies are being disbanded, practically all probationary employees who are not protected by the civil service are being terminated, and a “deferred resignation program” is being developed in order to grant buyouts to the majority of federal employees.

The reduction of the number of government personnel is the goal of these methods, which are designed to improve efficiency. According to John Koskinen, who served as the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service in the past, a reduction in personnel by tens of thousands would cause the agency to become “dysfunctional.”

Throughout his time in office, Koskinen was employed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a member of the agency. According to the most recent information provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the administration of federal taxes is responsible for the employment of around 90,000 people in the United countries.

By comparison, individuals of colour make up only 56 percent of the workforce at the Internal Revenue Service, while women make up 65 percent of the workforce.

There have been over seven thousand probationary employees who have worked for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for a period of one year or less who have had their employment terminated by the agency. The verdict was handed down in the month of February.

In addition, buyouts that were made available through the “Deferred Resignation Program” were available to employees of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as well as practically all federal employees working in other departments and agencies.

On the other hand, employees of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) who are participating in the tax season of 2025 were warned earlier this month that they would not be permitted to take a buyout offer from the Trump administration until the middle of May.

This occurs after the IRS return deadline.

The Trump administration has the intention of transferring workers from the Internal Revenue Service to the Department of Homeland Security in order to provide assistance with the enforcement of immigration laws.

It is important to note that this is in addition to the layoffs that were already planned. In a letter that was addressed to Scott Bessent, the Secretary of the Treasury, in February, Kristi Noem, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, asked for the loan of federal personnel to assist in the ongoing operations that are being conducted to combat immigration.

According to Koskinen and six former IRS Commissioners, who were mentioned in a recent piece published in the New York Times, significant reductions in the resources available to the Internal Revenue Service will negatively impact the effectiveness and efficiency of the government in its efforts to collect taxes in accordance with the mandates of Congress.

In accordance with an order that was issued by the White House at the end of February, all federal agencies are required to produce a report by March 13 that details the methods they have implemented to reduce the number of employees.

On the other hand, it is still unclear whether the White House would give its approval to the plan for reorganisation that was suggested by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the timetable for putting it into action is also unknown.

In response to a request for comment made by the Associated Press, officials from the White House, Treasury Department, and Internal Revenue Service did not provide any meaningful responses. Initial coverage of the negotiations was initially published by the New York Times, which was the first publication to do so.

SOURCE: AP