"IRS Seizes Control Over DOGE: A Look at the Aggressive 'Elimination' Strategy Before Tax Season"
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been plunged into chaos ever since the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team arrived at its Washington D.C. headquarters last month. In a matter of minutes, the DOGE software engineer demanded access to the IRS's most secure, internal databases – starting with the IT systems, then personal and financial data of millions of American taxpayers, and finally, contracts held by the IRS.
Another DOGE staffer aimed to put a stop to nearly all IRS programs and initiatives planned for this fiscal year, many designed to modernize the agency and enhance the tax filing process. Since the DOGE takeover, the IRS has seen thousands of workers and auditors fired, over 110 taxpayer assistance offices shuttered across the country, and plans to cut nearly 20% of all IRS employees by May 15.
Throughout this tumultuous period, the IRS has been operating during tax season, managing to process returns and disburse refunds. However, sources claim these DOGE actions could potentially hinder long-term IRS operations, as it manages nearly all accounts receivable for the federal government.
Current and former IRS officials, who chose to remain anonymous, described an atmosphere of intimidation, especially towards career staffers. One IRS employee said, "They just drop by people's offices, demanding access to systems; they're bullying us, and there's no discipline in what they're doing, which really worries me."
In an informal poll carried out by CNN/SSRS last week, it was found that 62% of Americans are concerned that the Trump administration's proposed cuts could lead to essential programs being shut down, while only 37% are more worried about the prospect of insufficient cuts to eliminate fraud and waste.
Since Trump's return, there have been numerous leadership changes at the IRS. The Biden-appointed IRS commissioner, Danny Werfel, resigned on Inauguration Day. His successor retired four weeks later, with the current leader, Melanie Krause, having only been at the IRS for three-and-a-half years. Trump's nominee to be the new full-time commissioner, former GOP congressman Billy Long, is still awaiting confirmation.
Beyond reducing the headcount, sources suggest that DOGE prioritizes gaining access to the IRS's vast data systems. In recent weeks, DOGE staffers have been granted access to the IRS's human resource system, which houses personal information of all IRS employees. The management at the IRS is currently weighing whether to allow DOGE full access to their data systems in court.
DOGE's motives at the IRS appear to be part of the Trump administration's broader efforts to root out fraud and abuse. However, two IRS employees have indicated that some of DOGE's actions seem to be aimed at finding ways to use the agency's protected data to find undocumented immigrants. If their attempts are successful, it could potentially lead to privacy violations and erosion of public trust in government institutions.
- The DOGE team's insistence on gaining access to the IRS's most secure databases, including personal and financial data of millions of American taxpayers, could potentially hinder the long-term stability of the IRS.
- The IRS, since the DOGE takeover, has been implementing layoffs, leading to the firing of thousands of workers and auditors, which has been a cause of concern for current and former IRS officials.
- Beyond reducing the headcount, the DOGE team's priority seems to be gaining access to the IRS's vast data systems, such as the human resource system, which raises questions about potential privacy violations and the erosion of public trust in government institutions.
