A major government shake-up is underway as President Donald Trump delivers on his promise to rein in the IRS and cut government waste.
Nearly half of the IRS workforce — about 34,000 employees — has been furloughed as the federal shutdown enters its second week.
According to the agency’s contingency plan, which runs through April 30, 2026, most day-to-day operations are being suspended. The IRS will keep only a few essential functions running — including tax enforcement, criminal investigations, and data protection — to safeguard the nation’s financial systems.
Out of the IRS’s 74,000 employees, only 39,870 will remain on duty. The rest will be sent home without pay as the administration continues its push to drain the swamp and reduce bureaucratic bloat that ballooned under Joe Biden.
Trump Pushes Back Against IRS Expansion
The shutdown stems from a funding impasse between President Trump and Congress, with Trump demanding spending reforms and accountability before signing off on new appropriations.
Conservatives have long warned that the IRS, empowered by the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act, became an overreaching tax army targeting hardworking Americans and small businesses. Trump’s move, his allies say, is a bold correction that puts power back in the hands of taxpayers.
“This is exactly what President Trump promised — smaller government and smarter spending,” said one senior administration official. “Americans should not fear their own tax agency.”
IRS Union Cries Foul
Union leaders blasted the furloughs, claiming it would lead to “backlogs” and “frustration” for taxpayers. National Treasury Employees Union President Doreen Greenwald warned of longer wait times and delayed refunds.
But Trump officials counter that taxpayer services — including call centers and non-essential administrative functions — are being paused only to prioritize national security and fiscal discipline.
“Americans are tired of seeing their tax dollars wasted on an agency that’s been weaponized against them,” a senior Treasury aide said.
The End of the Biden-Era IRS
Earlier this year, the IRS quietly cut its workforce from nearly 100,000 to about 75,000 — even before the shutdown began. Now, Trump’s new measures could push that number even lower, marking one of the largest federal downsizings in decades.
The Trump administration also reminded employees that back pay is not guaranteed, a move meant to pressure lawmakers into reaching a responsible spending deal.
Supporters see it as a defining moment: the start of a leaner, more accountable government. Critics call it chaos. But for many Americans, this is Trump keeping his word — restoring fairness, cutting waste, and protecting the middle class from an out-of-control IRS.
Bottom Line
President Donald Trump’s decision to defund large portions of the IRS is a historic shift in how Washington operates. For taxpayers, it’s a sign that the era of unchecked government power is over — and that real accountability is back in the Oval Office.