Reports: IRS to lay off around 6,000 people
At Pentagon, Hegseth calls for $50B in cuts
By: Anthony Robledo
UAS Today
..... The IRS reportedly planned Thursday [02/20/2025] to begin laying off the first of about 6,000 employees amid a hiring freeze set by President Donald Trump, with the layoffs primarily affecting new hires, according to The New York Times and Reuters.
..... Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to cut 8% of next year's [2026] defense budget - around $50 billion - from "low-impact and low-priority" Biden-era programs to redirect the funds toward President download trump;s "America First priorities." The Pentagon has an $850 billion annual budget, the largest of any federal department.
.....
On Wednesday, [02/19/2025] IRS manager asked some employees to bring their government-issued equipment to the office in the coming days, the Times reported.
..... Probationary employees, who have worked at the IRS for less then one or two years, will be primarily impacted by the layoffs, Reuters reported. The Trump administration has launched sweeping layoffs across the federal government for these new hires, who typically receive less protection than their colleagues with a longer tenure.
..... some accountants have warned an IRS labor shortage would complicate tax season for taxpayers seeking assistance or requesting fast refund checks. The National Taxpayer Advocate, an independent organization within the IRS, has stated the U.S revenue service was already grappling with under-staffing and difficulty hiring and retaining 4employees.
..... Under the Biden administration, the IRS expanded staff to around 100,000 people, including around 16,000 probationary workers, as part of an effort to further audit corporation and wealthy taxpayers.
..... USA Today has erased out to the IRS for comment.
......
As fro U.S. military, leaders will put together a list of programs that could be axed to fund Trump's cost-cutting plans, including "so-called "climate change' and other woke programs, as well as excessive bureaucracy,' according to a statement form acting Deputy defense Secretary Robert Salesses on Wednesday [02/19/2025] night.
..... It was unclear from the statement what new programs would receive the money, but it said Trump's priorities include :securing our borders, building the Iron Dome for America, and ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs and referencing."
..... Redirecting the funds would "refocus the Department on its core mission of deterring and winning wars," according to the statement.
..... As head of the military, Hegseth said he will eradicate diversity, initiatives at the Pentagon, which he has said drew energy from its battle readiness and "warrior ethos." Earlier this month, [02/2025] he restricted transgender people from enlisting and eliminated identity month celebration like Black History Month at the Defense Department.
..... Although Hegseth said Trump adviser Elon Musk and his federal agency-cutting team were "welcome" at the Pentagon, he said last week [02/13/2025] any cuts to defense spending would not be "to the detriment of American operational or tactical capabilities."
..... Trump deployed an additional 1,500 active duty solders and Marines to the southern border to add to the 2,500 already stationed there and sent four military aircraft to El Paso, Texas; and San Diego to carry out deportation.
..... In an executive order last month, [01/20/2025] he laid out a plan for an "Iron Dome for America" - the development of a more robust missile defense system.
..... Contributing: Cybele Mayer-Ostre,am, Mike Snider and Joey Garrison, USA Today