Robert Besser
09 Apr 2025, 08:06 GMT+10
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began laying off workers late last week, according to an email sent to staff, and one of the first groups affected will be employees in the civil rights office.
Earlier, Reuters reported that more than 20,000 IRS workers would lose their jobs. A source confirmed this number, saying that about 20 percent to 25 percent of the IRS workforce will be let go.
The Washington Post first reported the start of the layoffs and the shutdown of the civil rights office.
These job cuts are part of a larger plan to reduce the size of the federal government. To date, over 200,000 government jobs have been eliminated. President Donald Trump has asked billionaire Elon Musk to help lead this effort to shrink and reorganize government agencies.
According to an internal email, the IRS is implementing a "Reduction in Force," which means job cuts will be made across multiple departments.
The email also stated that 75 percent of the IRS's civil rights office—previously known as the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)—will be eliminated. The few remaining workers will be moved to a different office.
Trump has signed executive orders to shut down DEI programs, which he claims are unfair. Civil rights groups have strongly criticized these moves, arguing that DEI efforts are crucial in addressing long-standing inequalities.
The email stated that the layoffs will occur in stages.
This comes at a hectic time for the IRS, as the tax filing deadline for most people is April 15.
Get a daily dose of Illinois Intelligencer news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Illinois Intelligencer.
More InformationNagpur (Maharashtra) [India], April 14 (ANI): Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on Monday lauded the arrest of fugitive...
New Delhi [India], April 14 (ANI): Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has been arrested by law enforcement authorities in Belgium. Choksi,...
New Delhi [India], April 14 (ANI): Punjab National Bank Scam whistle-blower Hariprasad SV has hailed the arrest of fugitive Indian...
New Delhi [India], April 14 (ANI): Fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi was arrested by Belgium's Law Enforcement authorities,...
Investigators believe Nikita Casap killed his parents to fund a plan to assassinate the US president and frame Russia A Wisconsin...
Ray Dalio warns that US President Trump's tariff strategy could trigger something much worse than a recession ...
NEW DELHI, India: Apple has ramped up shipments of iPhones from India to the United States, chartering aircraft to move hundreds of...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Commerce Department during the week ended about US$4 million in funding to Princeton University for assessing...
HONG KONG: A Hong Kong social worker has been handed a prison sentence of nearly four years after a retrial linked to the 2019 pro-democracy...
LONDON, UK: The United States has pulled out of international talks in London about reducing pollution from ships. These talks are...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. government warned this week that Chinese spies are using trickery to try to hire current and former U.S....
SANTA Fe, New Mexico: More and more voters in New Mexico don't belong to any political party. Until now, they couldn't vote in primary...